Town guide

Waterloo, Iowa

Waterloo is a city in Black Hawk County, Iowa, home to about 67,008 people across 62 square miles. Its ZIP codes are 50701, 50702 and 50703, and parts of 50613 and 50707 are in Waterloo too.

Homes sold for a median of $123 per square foot across 3 ZIP codes in the three months ending August 2026, and all of them were seller’s markets.

Population67,0081,088 per sq mi
Median home value$152,600Census, as estimated by owners
Price per sq ft$123Sold homes, 3 months to August 2026
Sold over asking34%Median of 3 ZIP codes

ZIP codes in Waterloo

5 ZIP codes, 2 shared with neighboring towns

Each card is that ZIP code’s whole market, including any part outside Waterloo. Seller’s market: under 4 months of supply; buyer’s market: over 6. Methodology

The Waterloo guide is on the way

We’re writing up Waterloo’s story and what everyday life there is like, for people thinking about moving in.

  • History
  • What it’s like to live there
  • Getting around
  • Things to do

Are you a local agent who knows Waterloo well? Agents who advertise here will be able to write the guide. Advertise on OfferBacked

Around Waterloo

Distances

Nearest major airportDes Moines International Airport (DSM)94 miles away
Closer regional airportWaterloo Regional Airport (ALO)5 miles away
Nearest city of 250,000+Madison, WI153 miles away
Nearest city of 1 million+Chicago, IL243 miles away

Straight-line distances from the center of Waterloo; driving is longer.

Source: Airports from OurAirports (scheduled passenger service); city centers and populations from the U.S. Census Bureau.

Who represents Waterloo

Source: Members of Congress from the congress-legislators project; districts from the Census Bureau’s relationship files; governor and mayor from Wikidata.

Population over time

Waterloo had 67,314 residents in the 2020 census, down 2% since 2000.

It’s the 9th largest of 1,019 towns in Iowa by population.

Black Hawk County grew from 32,399 residents in 1900 to 131,144 in 2020.

Waterloo population by census2000: 68,747, 2010: 68,406, 2020: 67,31468,747200068,406201067,3142020

Black Hawk County, 1900–2020

Black Hawk County population, 1900 to 20201900: 32,399, 1910: 44,865, 1920: 56,570, 1930: 69,146, 1940: 79,946, 1950: 100,448, 1960: 122,482, 1970: 132,916, 1980: 137,961, 1990: 123,798, 2000: 128,012, 2010: 131,090, 2020: 131,14432K’00’1057K’20’3080K’40’50122K’60’70138K’80’90128K’00’10131K’20

Source: U.S. Census Bureau decennial censuses (counties 1900–1990 from the Bureau’s historical county file).

Weather by month

Average highs peak around 85°F in summer, and winter lows average 11°F. About 36.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall in a typical year, with about 39 inches of snow.

Average high and low temperature and precipitation by month near WaterlooJan: high 28°F, low 11°F, 1.1 in; Feb: high 33°F, low 15°F, 1.1 in; Mar: high 47°F, low 27°F, 2 in; Apr: high 61°F, low 38°F, 4 in; May: high 73°F, low 50°F, 4.6 in; Jun: high 82°F, low 61°F, 5.7 in; Jul: high 85°F, low 64°F, 4.3 in; Aug: high 83°F, low 61°F, 4.2 in; Sep: high 77°F, low 52°F, 3.1 in; Oct: high 63°F, low 40°F, 2.8 in; Nov: high 47°F, low 28°F, 1.9 in; Dec: high 34°F, low 17°F, 1.4 in28°11°Jan1.133°15°Feb1.147°27°Mar2.061°38°Apr4.073°50°May4.682°61°Jun5.785°64°Jul4.383°61°Aug4.277°52°Sep3.163°40°Oct2.847°28°Nov1.934°17°Dec1.4Rain and melted snow, inches

Source: NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals, Waterloo Muni Ap, IA weather station (5 miles away).

Jobs in Black Hawk County

63,693 jobs at 3,105 businesses in Black Hawk County. The biggest industries by employees:

Largest industries in Black Hawk CountyManufacturing: 12,104 jobs; Health care and social assistance: 10,688 jobs; Retail trade: 9,299 jobs; Hotels and restaurants: 6,522 jobs; Administrative and support: 4,796 jobs; Transportation and warehousing: 3,657 jobs; Professional services: 2,894 jobs; Wholesale trade: 2,800 jobsManufacturing 19% Health care and social assistance 17% Retail trade 15% Hotels and restaurants 10% Administrative and support 8% Transportation and warehousing 6% Professional services 5% Wholesale trade 4%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau County Business Patterns 2023 (private employers; jobs counted where people work).

Health care

1,024 doctors and other health care providers list an office in Waterloo’s ZIP codes.

Nearest hospitals

  • Mercyone Waterloo Medical CenterGeneral hospital · emergency room · CMS rating 4 of 5 · Waterloo1.9 miles
  • Allen HospitalGeneral hospital · emergency room · CMS rating 3 of 5 · Waterloo2.3 miles
  • Sartori Memorial Hospital, INCGeneral hospital · emergency room · Cedar Falls6.3 miles

Providers with an office here

Primary care doctors145
Specialist doctors213
Dentists62
Nurse practitioners and physician assistants260
Mental health providers237
Physical and occupational therapists60
Optometrists18
Chiropractors29
Pharmacies29

Source: Hospitals from CMS Hospital General Information (ratings are CMS overall star ratings); straight-line distances; providers from the CMS National Plan and Provider Enumeration System (NPPES), by practice address and primary specialty.

Places in and around Waterloo

Parks (80 nearby)

  • George Wyth Memorial State Park · 855 acres4.2 mi
  • Hartman Reserve Nature Center · 354 acres3.9 mi
  • Riverview Recreation Area · 350 acres2.1 mi
  • Brinker Lake · 348 acres3.0 mi
  • Hope Martin Memorial Park · 177 acres1.2 mi
  • Leonard Katoski Greenbelt Park · 172 acres3.5 mi

Grocery stores (29 nearby)

  • La Placita Mexican Store0.2 mi
  • Surplus Grocery0.2 mi
  • Shwe Nyiko Market & Asian Foods0.4 mi
  • Byron Super Market1.0 mi

Pharmacies (10 nearby)

  • Walgreens1.8 mi
  • CVS Pharmacy2.1 mi
  • Hy-Vee Pharmacy2.2 mi
  • Walgreens2.4 mi

Libraries (2 nearby)

  • Waterloo Public LIbrary0.3 mi
  • Evansdale Public Library3.0 mi

Museums (7 nearby)

  • Grout Museum of History and Science<0.1 mi
  • Rensselaer Russell House Museum0.1 mi
  • Russell Rensselaer House Museum0.1 mi
  • Dan Gable Wrestling Museum0.3 mi
  • National Wrestling Hall Of Fame0.3 mi

Theaters and performance venues (4 nearby)

  • Waterloo Community Playhouse0.3 mi
  • RiverLoop Amphitheatre0.4 mi
  • Waterloo Community Theatre0.4 mi
  • McBride Auditorium2.6 mi

Counts are within about 5 miles of the center of town.

Source: Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors (openstreetmap.org/copyright), as mapped by volunteers; it can miss places or include closed ones.

Colleges, teams and notable people

Colleges and universities

  • Hawkeye Community College
  • Allen College

Notable people born here

  • Lou Henry Hoover (1874) · First Lady of the United States from 1929 to 1933
  • Michele Bachmann (1956) · American politician (born 1956)
  • Julie Adams (1926) · American actress (1926–2019)
  • Adam DeVine (1983) · American actor, comedian and writer (born 1983)
  • Edwin Thompson Jaynes (1922) · American physicist (1922-1998)
  • Dan Gable (1948) · American wrestler and coach (born 1948)
  • Nikole Hannah-Jones (1976) · American journalist
  • Cal Petersen (1994) · American ice hockey player

Source: Wikidata (wikidata.org), the free knowledge base; people are listed by place of birth.

Schools in Waterloo

Public schools here are run by Waterloo Comm School District. Check each district’s attendance zones for a specific address.

Public schools (16)
SchoolGradesStudentsTypeDistance
Cunningham SchoolWaterlooPre-K–5443Public1.6 mi
Fred Becker Elementary SchoolWaterlooPre-K–5501Public2.2 mi
Highland Elementary SchoolWaterlooPre-K–5448Public2.0 mi
Kittrell Elementary SchoolWaterlooPre-K–5576Public1.5 mi
Lincoln Elementary SchoolWaterlooPre-K–5463Public2.1 mi
Lowell Elementary SchoolWaterlooPre-K–5538Public0.8 mi
Orange Elementary SchoolWaterlooPre-K–5518Public4.3 mi
Irving Elementary SchoolWaterlooK–5353Public0.4 mi
Kingsley Elementary SchoolWaterlooK–5337Public1.3 mi
Lou Henry Elementary SchoolWaterlooK–5460Public2.2 mi
Central Middle SchoolWaterloo6–8469Public2.8 mi
Expo Alternative Learning CenterWaterloo6–12561Alternative Education2.0 mi
George Washington Carver AcademyWaterloo6–8455Public2.0 mi
Hoover Middle SchoolWaterloo6–8848Public2.1 mi
East High SchoolWaterloo9–121,016Public1.0 mi
West High SchoolWaterloo9–121,696Public1.5 mi
Private schools (6)
SchoolGradesStudentsAffiliationDistance
Cedar Valley Catholic SchoolWaterlooPre-K–12733Roman Catholic1.9 mi
Cedar Valley Catholic School SystemWaterlooPre-K–12733Roman Catholic2.0 mi
Royal Legacy Christian AcademyWaterlooPre-K–636Christian (no specific denomination)0.1 mi
Waterloo Christian SchoolWaterlooPre-K–12312Christian (no specific denomination)2.4 mi
St Edward SchoolWaterlooK–5321Roman Catholic1.2 mi
Blessed Maria Assunta PallottaWaterloo6–8175Roman Catholic1.9 mi

Source: U.S. Department of Education, NCES: Common Core of Data (2024-2025) for public schools; Private School Universe Survey (2023-2024) for private schools. Listed by address; we don’t rate schools.

From OfferBacked · Free

Get matched with a local agent.

Buying or selling around Waterloo? Tell us what you need and when. No agents advertise here yet, so we’ll keep your request for up to 30 days and send it to local agents who join. No obligation, and you choose who to work with.

Get matched

Where Waterloo is

Loading map…

Towns near Waterloo

All Iowa towns →

Shares ZIP codes with Cedar Falls, Evansdale, Hudson, Elk Run Heights and Washburn.

Town boundaries don’t always match ZIP codes: a ZIP code can cross into neighboring towns, and a town can share a ZIP code with its neighbors. Facts describe the town itself; market figures describe whole ZIP codes.