City profile · Nebraska · Census ACS 2023

Waterloo, NE

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Waterloo - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

950
Residents
$75,417
Median income
$218,400
Median home
$1,368
Median rent (state)

Waterloo - the verdict

Nationally, Waterloo sits in the 57th percentile for household income and the 83rd percentile for safety among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

57th
percentile, household income
48th
percentile, home value
53rd
percentile, median rent
83rd
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Waterloo, NE

Waterloo is a small town in Nebraska, home to 950 residents per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Median household income here is $75,417 per year, above the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 4.1%. Waterloo's housing stock carries a median value of $218,400, and the median resident age is 38.5 years. 18.3% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 63.2% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Waterloo reports a comparatively low crime rate: FBI UCR reporting places total crime at 553.7 incidents per 100,000 residents, below the national average (voluntary agency reporting, reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score).

Living costs in Nebraska run below the national norm: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 puts Nebraska at 90.1 on a 100-equals-national-average scale (Well Below Average). A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $1,368 per month statewide. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts Nebraska's average monthly utility costs around $207 (state average). On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 95.9 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Very High).

Population

950 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Nebraska

Median Household Income

$75,417 /yr

Poverty 4.1%

Cost of Living Index (state)

90.1 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Nebraska average

How does Waterloo compare to other US cities?

Where Waterloo sits among all US cities (population 1,000+) on each measure, computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 57% higher than other cities
Home value 48% pricier than other cities
Median rent 53% pricier than other cities
Safety 83% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

National percentiles can mask local variation. Looking only at Nebraska, Waterloo ranks #11 of 44 Nebraska cities by lowest crime rate - a narrower, more locally useful cut than the national comparison above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Waterloo against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Nebraska only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Nebraska-relative analysis

Median Gross Rent is Waterloo's strongest outlier among Nebraska cities

Among the 450 Nebraska cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, Waterloo ranks #1 - the 92nd percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Waterloo only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#124 of 439
72nd percentile in Nebraska
Median Gross Rent
#1 of 450
92nd percentile in Nebraska
Median Home Value
#39 of 438
91st percentile in Nebraska
Poverty Rate
#277 of 450
38th percentile in Nebraska
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#265 of 450
41st percentile in Nebraska

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Nebraska only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

57thIncome percentile
83rdSafety percentile

57th percentile nationally for median household income · 83rd percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Waterloo's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Waterloo's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 63 Avg. percentile National median
Waterloo's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Waterloo's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$218,400 Among the most affordable more affordable than 52% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). This entry sits in this band. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Waterloo $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Waterloo, NE Waterloo, NE's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Waterloo, NE-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Waterloo, NE median $75,417/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Waterloo, NE's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Waterloo, NE. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 18.3%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 4.1%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 63.2%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
950
Median Income
$75,417
Median Home Value
$218,400
Median Age
38.5
Poverty Rate
4.1%
Labor force participation
63.2%
Bachelor's Degree+
18.3%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
553.7
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
332.2
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
221.5
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
910 residents920 residents930 residents940 residents950 residents 202020212022202320242025 938 residents 917 residents ▼ -2.2%
Waterloo's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
82.8%
Carpool
3.0%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
2.1%
Work from Home
12.1%

Based on 470 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Nebraska - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$100
avg/month
Natural Gas
$65
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$42
avg/month
Total Utilities
$207
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Nebraska state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Nebraska state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Waterloo sits in

Cost of Living Index
90.1
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,368/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
95.9 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Nebraska

Laurel
947 people
Benkelman
946 people
Crawford
957 people
Newman Grove
934 people
Pawnee City
930 people
Tilden
977 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Waterloo's 950 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Paradise Heights, FL
950 people
Milmay, NJ
950 people
Marble Cliff, OH
950 people
Pinopolis, SC
950 people
Lakeview, AR
949 people
Willow Creek, CA
949 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Waterloo's $75,417 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Braswell, GA
$75,417 median income
Biggsville, IL
$75,417 median income
Harrison, IL
$75,417 median income
Albany, MN
$75,417 median income
Easton, MN
$75,417 median income
Volga, SD
$75,417 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Waterloo, NE Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Waterloo, NE - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 92.7% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 3.9% White 92.7% Black or African American 2.2% Asian 0.0% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.2% Some other race 0.7% Two or more races 4.1% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Waterloo compares to nearby Nebraska cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Waterloo (this city) 950 $75,417
Laurel 947 $56,250
Benkelman 946 $42,500
Crawford 957 $58,438
Census ACS 5-year FIPS NE FBI UCR OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Waterloo, NE?

What is the population of Waterloo, NE? +

950 people live in Waterloo, NE according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Waterloo, NE? +

In Waterloo, the typical household earns $75,417 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Waterloo? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Waterloo; the closest available measure is the Nebraska state average, a cost of living index of 90.1 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Well Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Nebraska vary by metro area.

Is Waterloo, NE safe? +

Waterloo has a total crime rate of 553.7 per 100,000 residents, which is below the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Waterloo, NE? +

A typical home in Waterloo is worth $218,400, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.