City · Iowa
Waterloo, Iowa
Waterloo, city, in Black Hawk County, Iowa. Waterloo had 66,919 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 0.6% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 67,314 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 67,008 (±37). GEOID 1982425.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
66,919
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 67,314 · ACS 2020-2024: 67,008 ±37
Median household income
$57,480
±$1,797 (90% margin)
Iowa: $75,059
Median home value
$152,600
±$3,764 (90% margin)
Iowa: $208,000
Median gross rent
$923
±$25 (90% margin)
Iowa: $972
Where is Waterloo and what county is it in?
Waterloo is a city in Black Hawk County, Iowa. It covers 61.6 square miles of land, 1,093 residents per square mile in 2020.
Waterloo is in the Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 3 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Waterloo, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 66,919 people lived in Waterloo on July 1, 2025, down 0.6% since 2020, while Iowa grew 1.5%. The 2020 Census counted 67,314 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 67,008 (±37).
| Measure | Waterloo | Black Hawk County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 67,008 ±37 | 131,049 | −904 |
| Households | 29,283 ±567 | 54,563 | +972 |
| Average household size | 2.25 ±0.04 | 2.31 | −0.12 |
| Housing units | 32,143 ±442 | 58,991 | no clear change |
Waterloo's population since 2000
From 68,747 in 2000 to 66,919 in 2025: down 2.7%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Waterloo as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Waterloo?
The median resident of Waterloo is 36.7 years old; 24.5% are under 18 and 17.0% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 65.5%, then non-Hispanic Black residents at 16.4%. 10.1% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Waterloo | Black Hawk County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.7 ±0.8 | 35.7 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 24.5% ±0.7 pts | 21.9% | – |
| 65 years and over | 17.0% ±0.6 pts | 17.7% | – |
| Male | 49.0% ±0.7 pts | 49.2% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 8.4% ±0.4 pts | 5.2% | +1.5 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 65.5% ±0.8 pts | 78.1% | −5.3 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 16.4% ±1.0 pts | 9.1% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 3.2% ±0.5 pts | 2.7% | +1.0 pts |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.1% ±0.1 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 1.4% ±0.1 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 4.9% ±0.9 pts | 3.9% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.1% ±0.1 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 10.1% ±1.1 pts | 6.5% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 14.0% ±1.3 pts | 8.8% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 6.3% ±0.7 pts | 5.7% | – |
| With a disability | 14.9% ±1.0 pts | 13.3% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 7.0% ±1.0 pts | 5.1% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 89.6% ±0.9 pts | 92.9% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 21.8% ±1.5 pts | 30.3% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 7.0% ±0.9 pts | 11.0% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 85.8% ±1.7 pts | 83.8% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 1.8% ±0.6 pts | 1.8% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Waterloo earn?
Half of Waterloo's 29,283 households earn less than $57,480 a year (±$1,797), against $66,417 in Black Hawk County and $75,059 in Iowa. In 2015-2019 it was $58,245 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 16.6% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Waterloo | Black Hawk County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $57,480 ±$1,797 | $66,417 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $74,903 ±$3,337 | $89,163 | – |
| Per capita income | $32,837 ±$1,405 | $37,541 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 16.6% ±1.7 pts | 14.9% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 22.5% ±3.7 pts | 17.2% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 15.3% ±1.4 pts | 11.1% | – |
| Households with a computer | 94.0% ±0.9 pts | 95.2% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 87.2% ±1.3 pts | 89.4% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Waterloo?
Owners occupy 62.1% of Waterloo's occupied homes and renters 37.9%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $152,600 by its owner (±$3,764). The median renter pays $923 a month including utilities, and 38.9% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Waterloo | Black Hawk County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $152,600 ±$3,764 | $188,900 | +$8,117 |
| Median gross rent | $923 ±$25 | $989 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 38.9% ±3.0 pts | 41.0% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,244 ±$38 | $1,429 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 62.1% ±2.0 pts | 66.2% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 37.9% ±2.0 pts | 33.8% | – |
| Housing units | 32,143 ±442 | 58,991 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 1.9% ±1.0 pts | 1.3% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 6.4% ±1.6 pts | 6.5% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 68.9% ±1.5 pts | 69.8% | – |
| Mobile homes | 3.3% ±0.8 pts | 3.0% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.7% ±0.3 pts | 1.0% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 5.5% ±0.9 pts | 7.6% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 21.6% ±1.5 pts | 18.2% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 7.8% ±0.9 pts | 6.3% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Waterloo building?
Builders took permits for 337 new housing units in Waterloo in 2025 (44 in single-family houses; the permit office reported 10 of 12 months), 5.0 per 1,000 residents against 4.2 across Iowa.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Waterloo work and get to work?
78.1% of Waterloo's workers drive alone and 7.6% work from home. The average trip to work takes 15.9 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 5.3%.
| Measure | Waterloo | Black Hawk County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 65.6% ±1.4 pts | 66.7% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 5.3% ±1.2 pts | 4.6% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 78.1% ±1.9 pts | 78.4% | – |
| Carpooled | 11.4% ±1.6 pts | 8.5% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.4% ±0.2 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Walked | 1.6% ±0.6 pts | 3.0% | – |
| Worked from home | 7.6% ±1.2 pts | 8.9% | +4.9 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 15.9 min ±0.7 | 15.9 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Waterloo?
24 census tracts lie mostly in Waterloo, and 4 more reach into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $26,181 (Tract 1) to $93,688 (Tract 15.03).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 30.01Black Hawk County | 5,588 | $67,193 |
| Tract 14Black Hawk County | 4,627 | $74,549 |
| Tract 13.01Black Hawk County | 4,172 | $69,588 |
| Tract 15.02Black Hawk County | 4,011 | $59,112 |
| Tract 13.02Black Hawk County | 3,957 | $60,893 |
| Tract 10Black Hawk County | 3,661 | $63,210 |
| Tract 15.03Black Hawk County | 3,659 | $93,688 |
| Tract 8Black Hawk County | 3,454 | $48,866 |
| Tract 15.01Black Hawk County | 3,233 | $62,869 |
| Tract 2Black Hawk County | 3,161 | $46,513 |
| Tract 11Black Hawk County | 2,900 | $60,245 |
| Tract 3Black Hawk County | 2,694 | $37,188 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Waterloo) · Census block assignment files
How does Waterloo compare with other places in Iowa?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Waterloo is the 587th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 9th-most populous of 939 in Iowa.
Waterloo ranks 241st of 279 places in Iowa with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 9th | 939 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 139th | 275 |
| Residents per square mile | 134th | 279 |
| Median household income | 241st | 279 |
| Per capita income | 216th | 279 |
| Median home value | 171st | 279 |
| Median gross rent | 90th | 266 |
| Poverty rate | 34th | 232 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 173rd | 279 |
| Median age | 207th | 279 |
| Owner-occupied share | 254th | 279 |
| Work from home | 138th | 221 |
| Travel time to work | 228th | 279 |
Waterloo's figures with every place in Iowa (CSV)
Every place in Iowa, sortable · Compare Waterloo with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Waterloo?
2 of the 57 figures for Waterloo on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Waterloo are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' public schools in Waterloo.