City profile · Oregon · Census ACS 2023

Waterloo, OR

Waterloo's Census ACS profile: residents, income, housing, and the joined public-record layers available for this place.

242
Residents
$61,458
Median income
$236,500
Median home
$1,425
Median rent (state)
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Side-by-side metrics and state or size-class ranks use the same Census and FBI fields shown on this profile. Results stay in the URL so you can bookmark or share them.

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Starting with Waterloo, OR - add up to three more cities on the compare page.

See how it ranks

State rank, size-class rank, and four peer cities for Waterloo.

Place dossier plate

Sheet OR-WATERLOO-OR · Waterloo, OR 242 pop · income 37th pct

POP-VILLAGE · INC-MID · COL-PAR · SAFE-UNK · RANK-LOWER · PHOTO-FINISH · HOME-MID · BOOK-UNK

  • POP-VILLAGE 242
  • INC-MID $61,458
  • COL-PAR 103.4
  • SAFE-UNK Safety pending
  • RANK-LOWER 37th
  • PHOTO-FINISH ≈ Flora
  • HOME-MID $236,500
  • BOOK-UNK Tracts pending

Nearest income peer: Flora, IN (+ $0 income $)

Instrument codes from this place’s ACS population and household income, BEA state COL, FBI safety, national income percentile, photo-finish peer city, home-value band, and matched Census-tract book - not a moving recommendation.

Income neighbourhood around Waterloo

Lowest/highest poles plus peers nearest Waterloo on median household income. Full ladder: /browse and /rankings.

median HH income

What this shows Neighbourhood peers only - not a full nationwide city board. Open a near peer when the gap is small; open the poles when the spread is wide.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2026-08-08

Compare beyond this state

Nationwide peers by population, income

Out-of-state nearest neighbors for Waterloo on ACS population and median household income . Link sets are deduped so each column is a distinct comparison path, not a forecast that peers share a labor market or climate.

Similar population

Nearest out-of-state cities by ACS population. This city: 242.

4 peers

Similar household income

Nearest out-of-state cities by ACS median household income. This city: $61,458. Population peers are excluded.

4 peers

Waterloo - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Waterloo places in the 37th percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

37th
percentile, household income
53rd
percentile, home value
66th
percentile, median rent
📝 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, OR

Waterloo is a small town in Oregon, home to 242 residents per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. The typical household in Waterloo brings in $61,458 a year, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 3.2%. Home values in Waterloo run a median of $236,500, and the median resident age is 45.7 years. 11.0% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 47.6% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Oregon carries a cost-of-living premium: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, Oregon scores 103.4 (Above Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $1,425 monthly. Monthly utility costs average around $185 across Oregon, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. Natural-hazard exposure scores 63.4 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Moderate).

A decision-led reading path

Useful questions to ask of Waterloo's data

How this reading path is ordered

This is not a composite city score. It is a city-specific route through the available public records, ordered for this profile so the page starts with questions the joined data can actually answer. The route here runs from work and mobility to housing and income to comparison shortlist to population change; another city can have a different sequence or fewer supported layers because the source joins are not uniform.

For Waterloo, city-specific coverage includes commute-mode shares, annual population history. No matched row is reported here for matched public-school count, within-city Census tract profiles, FBI reported-crime rates, local building permits; the page leaves those layers out instead of substituting a statewide or national value.

Question 1

What does the journey to work look like in Waterloo?

Driving alone is the largest reported mode at 83.3%. A reliable mean commute time is not available for this row, so the mode shares carry the comparison.

Mode share answers how workers usually travel; it does not measure congestion, reliability, distance to a particular job, or the quality of transit service. Remote work has a visible role in the local pattern. That can reduce commute exposure for some workers, but it says nothing about job availability or broadband quality; read it alongside income and housing rather than as a stand-alone lifestyle score.

Compare commute patterns →

2. Housing and income

How far does income reach against housing in Waterloo?

This is a citywide price-to-income reference, not a mortgage-affordability test; it does not include interest rates, taxes, insurance, household size, or an individual buyer's down payment. Income and home value move within the same broad scale here. The useful next check is not a generic affordability label, but whether similar-size cities offer a materially different income, housing, or commute trade-off.

The home-value-to-income reference sits in a middle range: the ACS median home value is 3.8 times median household income. The ACS poverty estimate is 3.2%, which keeps the citywide median from describing every household.

Compare the housing trade-off →

3. Comparison shortlist

Which cities make useful reference points for Waterloo?

Use the in-state set to hold state policy and broad price conditions more nearly constant. Use the nationwide size set to ask whether cities with a similar resident count produce different housing, income, or commute outcomes. The income set is a third lens, deliberately separate from population matching.

Within Oregon, the closest population matches are Kirkpatrick (242 residents, $206,875 income); Butteville (244 residents, $117,857 income); Labish (238 residents). Outside the state, the closest population matches in this dataset are Franklin, AR (242 residents); Alma, CO (242 residents); Maalaea, HI (242 residents). A third, income-matched reference set of 6 out-of-state cities sits in the income neighbourhood chart near the Place Dossier plate. These are mechanical peer sets, not claims that the places share a labor market, climate, culture, or metro context.

Open a side-by-side comparison →

Question 4

Is Waterloo growing, shrinking, or holding steady?

Census PEP estimates show the population grew by +4 residents from 2020 to 2025, a +1.8% change. No comparable local building-permit series is available here, so population change should not be read as a housing-supply measure. PEP and ACS are different Census series, so the trend is kept separate from the headline ACS population.

Recent estimates point upward. Growth can increase housing demand and service needs, but the permit record must move in the same direction before calling it a supply response; the two series measure different things.

See the national growth ranking →

Population

242 residents

Micro place (under 10k)

Median Household Income

$61,458 /yr

Below median income · poverty 3.2% (Low poverty)

Cost of Living Index (state)

103.4 (US=100)

Above-average cost · BEA RPP 2024, Oregon average

City profile score · Waterloo, OR

39/100

4 published dimensions · ACS/FBI 2023

Comparative score against U.S. cities with population of 1,000 or more on Census ACS medians (income, poverty, bachelor's share, cost of living) and FBI UCR violent-crime rates when published. Higher means a stronger standing on those published figures, not a livability rating, not a recommendation to move, buy, or pick a "best" city. Missing inputs drop out and redistribute weight. How it is calculated.

Poverty rate B+
3.2%

Share of residents below the poverty line; lower scores better on this axis.

Household income F
$61,458

Median household income vs U.S. cities (pop ≥1,000); ACS.

Cost of living F
103.4 index

BEA state Regional Price Parities index (100 ≈ national average); lower is stronger on this axis. Same value for every city in the state.

Bachelor's+ share F
11.0%

Adults with a bachelor's degree or higher; ACS.

Violent crime N/A
N/A

No FBI UCR violent-crime rate for this place (coverage is incomplete).

Waterloo profile (scored ACS/FBI dimensions) 4-axis radar comparing 1 series across Poverty rate, Household income, Cost of living, Bachelor's+ share. Poverty rateHousehold incomeCost of livingBachelor's+ share 39 F
Waterloo profile (scored ACS/FBI dimensions)
Read the chart values
  • Poverty rate: 77/100 (B+) · 3.2%
  • Household income: 37/100 (F) · $61,458
  • Cost of living: 25/100 (F) · 103.4 index
  • Bachelor's+ share: 9/100 (F) · 11.0%

How does Waterloo compare to other US cities?

Waterloo measured against every US city with 1,000+ residents, computed live from the same Census and FBI data shown throughout this page.

Household income 37% higher than other cities
Home value 53% pricier than other cities
Median rent 66% pricier than other cities

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

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

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

Oregon-relative analysis

Median Gross Rent places Waterloo near the bottom of Oregon's cities

Among the 395 Oregon cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, Waterloo ranks #1 - the 0th 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
#238 of 364
35th percentile in Oregon
Median Gross Rent
#1 of 395
0th percentile in Oregon
Median Home Value
#288 of 366
21st percentile in Oregon
Poverty Rate
#274 of 395
30th percentile in Oregon
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#322 of 395
17th percentile in Oregon
How in-state ranks are ordered

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 Oregon only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

37thIncome percentile
Gauge source note

37th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Waterloo's home value compares nationally

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

$236,500 47th percentile more affordable than 47% of 15,600 US cities

Show national distribution $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%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). This entry sits in this band. $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

Waterloo's home-value-to-income ratio: 3.8×

ACS median home value divided by median household income.

Band
moderate
3.0–5.0×
National rank
#10,223 of 15,516
More affordable than 34% of tracked cities (pop. 1,000+)
Size class
#8,059 of 11,323
Micro cities (under 10,000)

At 3.8×, Waterloo sits in the moderate band: national rank #10,223 of 15,516 and #8,059 of 11,323micro cities (under 10,000). Income and home value move in the same broad scale; check same-state peers before treating the multiple as an advantage or a warning.

How this ratio is calculated

Ratio = Census ACS 2023 median home value ÷ median household income for cities with both fields and population ≥ 1,000. Rank 1 = lowest ratio (most compact). Bands match the fleet affordability thresholds used on guides (<3.0 / 3.0–5.0 / >5.0). This is not a mortgage payment estimate and does not include rates, taxes, insurance, or down payment.

Income distribution context

$61,458 Waterloo, OR median household income (Census ACS)

Show U.S. national quintile / Lorenz context Household income distribution - Waterloo, OR Waterloo, OR's median household income ($61,458) against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern. The Lorenz curve and quintile bars are national context, not Waterloo, OR-specific shares. $ Household Income Distribution Waterloo, OR median $61,458/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, OR median household income (Census ACS 5-year) with U.S. national quintile shares for context. Diagonal = equality; the curve is national, not computed for Waterloo, OR.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 11.0%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 3.2%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 47.6%

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

Population
242
Median Income
$61,458
Median Home Value
$236,500
Median Age
45.7
Poverty Rate
3.2%
Labor force participation
47.6%
Bachelor's Degree+
11.0%

Population Change

PEP vintage

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
224 residents226 residents228 residents230 residents232 residents 202020212022202320242025 226 residents 230 residents ▲ +1.8%
Waterloo's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.
Read the chart as text
Period Population
2020 226 residents
2021 227 residents
2022 226 residents
2023 228 residents
2024 228 residents
2025 230 residents

Commute Patterns

Commute source

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
83.3%
Carpool
0.9%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
0.0%
Work from Home
15.7%

Based on 108 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

Oregon statewide monthly utility average (EIA 2023): $185

EIA 2023 residential energy data puts average monthly utilities across Oregon at $185 (electricity about $85 , water and sewer about $50 ).

These are Oregon statewide averages, not a meter reading for Waterloo. Actual bills vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Oregon's BEA cost-of-living index is 103.4 (Above Average; US average = 100, RPP 2024). HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in the county around Waterloo is $1,425/mo. FEMA's National Risk Index, averaged to Oregon statewide on PlainCities, rates natural-hazard exposure at 63.4 / 100 (Moderate).

Cost/risk geography note

Cost of living is a Oregon statewide BEA average; rent is a county-level HUD Fair Market Rent for the county Waterloo sits in; the FEMA hazard score shown here is a statewide average of county NRI inputs, not a parcel-level reading.

How Waterloo compares to similar-size Oregon cities

Same-state peer method

Closest same-state population matches, not geographic neighbors. Population + median household income come from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 and B19013.

City Population Median Household Income
Waterloo (this city) 242 $61,458
Kirkpatrick 242 $206,875
Butteville 244 $117,857
Labish 238 N/A
Primary sources on this page

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, 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.

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

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES. Joins use OMB Bulletin 23-01 / FIPS keys.

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Estimate caveats

ACS and UCR figures are citywide estimates with vintage lags; they do not replace a local visit, school visit, or insurance quote.

Editorial standards, provenance, and how to cite this page

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.

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