Census ACS · #268 MSA
Waterloo Metro Area
The Waterloo-Cedar Falls, Ia Metropolitan Statistical Area has 168,163 residents. The median household income is $68,916 and the median home value is $186,100.
168,163
Population
112
People / sq mi
$68,916
Median Income
$186,100
Median Home Value
The Waterloo CBSA covers 1,503 sq mi of land at 111.9 people per square mile.
Race & Ethnicity
| White | 83.5% |
| Black or African American | 7.7% |
| Asian | 0.0% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 1.4% |
Economy & Income
$68,916
Median Household Income
$38,132
Per Capita Income
7.6%
Poverty Rate
3.0%
Unemployment
Cost of Living
The Waterloo metro's price level is 87.1 on the BEA Regional Price Parity index (US average = 100), meaning prices are 12.9% lower the US average. The local median income of $68,916 has the buying power of $79,162 in average-priced US metros.
87.1
Price Level (US = 100)
$79,162
COL-Adjusted Median Income
$68,916
Nominal Median Income
Housing
$186,100
Median Home Value
$947
Median Rent
68.9%
Homeownership
Education
94.0%
High School+
30.5%
Bachelor's+
Commute
0.2%
Drive Alone
8.9%
Work From Home
17.1 min
Avg Commute
18.1%
Foreign Born
Waterloo spans this state
Nearby metros
Largest cities in Iowa
Largest counties in Iowa
Part of Iowa
Other metros
Metro areas in Iowa
Metro rankings
Frequently Asked Questions
The Waterloo-Cedar Falls, Ia Metropolitan Statistical Area has a population of 168,163 according to Census ACS 5-Year estimates, making it the #268 largest CBSA in the US.
The median household income in the Waterloo metro area is $68,916, with a per capita income of $38,132.
The Waterloo-Cedar Falls, Ia CBSA spans the state of Iowa.
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More from Iowa
Data for the Waterloo-Cedar Falls, Ia CBSA (47940) from the American Community Survey 5-Year estimates. Core-Based Statistical Areas combine cities, suburbs, and surrounding counties tied together by commuting patterns.
Age is the most distinctive thing about Waterloo: a median age of 36.6, younger than the national median. Waterloo is a metro area in IA with a population of 168,163.
The typical household here earns about $68,916, below the US median of $78,538. About 7.6% of residents live below the federal poverty level, below the national 12.4%. The typical home is valued at $186,100, with typical rent around $947.
Roughly 30.5% of adults have a bachelor’s, below the national 35.0%.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS, 2026.