Waterloo, IA

Census Place

2024 Population

67,008

US Senator

Chuck Grassley

Republican Party

US Senator

Joni Ernst

Republican Party

2024 Median Age

36.7

0.273% 1-year increase

2024 Poverty Rate

16.6%

1.03% 1-year increase

2024 Median Household Income

$57,480

2.02% 1-year growth

2024 Median Property Value

$152,600

Population & Diversity

Waterloo, IA is home to a population of 67k people, from which 94.2% are citizens.

As of 2024, 9.73% of Waterloo, IA residents were born outside of the country (6.52k people).

In 2024, there were 3.99 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (43.9k people) in Waterloo, IA than any other race or ethnicity. There were 11k Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) and 2.95k Two Races Excluding Other, & Three or More Races (Non-Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

Population & Diversity

Citizenship

94.2%

2024 Citizenship

95%

2023 Citizenship

As of 2024, 94.2% of Waterloo, IA residents were US citizens, which is higher than the national average of 93.2%. In 2023, the percentage of US citizens in Waterloo, IA was 95%, meaning that the rate of citizenship has been decreasing.

The following chart shows US citizenship percentages in Waterloo, IA compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Diversity

Race and Ethnicity

The 3 largest ethnic groups in Waterloo, IA

White (Non-Hispanic)
43.9k ± 525
Black or African American (Non-Hispanic)
11k ± 693
Two Races Excluding Other, & Three or More Races (Non-Hispanic)
2.95k ± 573

8.38%

Hispanic Population

5.62k people

8.38% of the people in Waterloo, IA are hispanic (5.62k people).

The following chart shows the 8 races represented in Waterloo, IA as a share of the total population.

Global Diversity

The PUMS dataset is not available at the Place level, so we are showing data for Iowa.

Most Common Origin

Mexico
44,333 ± 5,134 people
India
11,889 ± 2,672 people
Guatemala
8,189 ± 2,219 people

In 2024, the most common birthplace for the foreign-born residents of Iowa was Mexico, the natal country of 44,333 Iowa residents, followed by India with 11,889 and Guatemala with 8,189.

Foreign-Born Population

9.73%

2024 Foreign-Born Population

6.52k people

9.34%

2023 Foreign-Born Population

6.26k people

As of 2024, 9.73% of Waterloo, IA residents (6.52k people) were born outside of the United States, which is approximately the same as the national average of 14%. In 2023, the percentage of foreign-born citizens in Waterloo, IA was 9.34%, meaning that the rate has been increasing.

The following chart shows the percentage of foreign-born residents in Waterloo, IA compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Military

Veterans

Most Common Service Period

Vietnam
1,249 ± 213
Gulf War (2001-)
489 ± 154
Gulf War (1990s)
381 ± 129

Waterloo, IA has a large population of military personnel who served in Vietnam, 2.55 times greater than any other conflict.

The chart shows the distribution of veterans by conflict in Waterloo, IA.

Economy

The economy of Waterloo, IA employs 32.5k people. In 2024, the largest industries in Waterloo, IA were Manufacturing (6,359 people), Health Care & Social Assistance (4,467 people), and Retail Trade (4,382 people), and the highest paying industries were Public Administration ($67,353), Finance & Insurance ($54,278), and Utilities ($53,646).

Employment

Occupations

32.5k

2024 Value

± 1,301

0.598%

1 Year growth

± 5.63%

From 2023 to 2024, employment in Waterloo, IA grew at a rate of 0.598%, from 32.3k employees to 32.5k employees.

The most common job groups, by number of people living in Waterloo, IA, are Production Occupations (3,916 people), Office & Administrative Support Occupations (3,229 people), and Material Moving Occupations (2,929 people). This chart illustrates the share breakdown of the primary jobs held by residents of Waterloo, IA.

Unemployment Insurance Claims

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Iowa.

This chart shows weekly unemployment insurance claims in Iowa (not-seasonally adjusted) compared with the four states with the most similar impact.

The most recent data point uses Advance State Claims data, which can be revised in subsequent weeks.

Industries

Employment by Industries

32.5k

2024 Value

± 1,301

0.598%

1 Year growth

± 5.63%

From 2023 to 2024, employment in Waterloo, IA grew at a rate of 0.598%, from 32.3k employees to 32.5k employees.

The most common employment sectors for those who live in Waterloo, IA, are Manufacturing (6,359 people), Health Care & Social Assistance (4,467 people), and Retail Trade (4,382 people). This chart shows the share breakdown of the primary industries for residents of Waterloo, IA, though some of these residents may live in Waterloo, IA and work somewhere else. Census data is tagged to a residential address, not a work address.

Median Earnings by Industry

$46,924

Median earning men ± $1,794

$35,748

Median earning women ± $1,472

The industries with the best median earnings for men in 2024 are Public Administration ($68,107), Transportation & Warehousing, & Utilities ($52,699), and Professional, Scientific, & Management, & Administrative & Waste Management Services ($51,644).

The industries with the best median earnings for women in 2024 are Construction ($61,071), Public Administration ($56,406), and Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($54,142).

Education

The student population of Waterloo, IA in 2024 is skewed towards women, with 2,121 male students and 3,482 female students.

Most students graduating from Universities in Waterloo, IA are White (997 and 82.3%), Black or African American (60 and 4.95%), Hispanic or Latino (58 and 4.79%), and Two or More Races (46 and 3.8%).

The largest universities in Waterloo, IA by number of degrees awarded are Hawkeye Community College (1,026 and 83.1%) and Allen College (208 and 16.9%).

The most popular majors in Waterloo, IA are Liberal Arts & Sciences (239 and 19.4%), Registered Nursing (234 and 19%), and Emergency Medical Technician (EMT Paramedic) (68 and 5.51%).

The median tuition cost for private four year colleges is $22,624.

Admissions & Enrollments

Enrollments by Gender and Races

Universities

In 2024 there were 5,603 students enrolled in Waterloo, IA, 37.9% men and 62.1% women.

By race, the largest number of students enrolled was concentrated in White with 4,245 records, of which 62.3% were women and 37.7% men.

Completions

Concentrations

Most Common

Liberal Arts & Sciences
239 degrees awarded
Registered Nursing
52 degrees awarded
Computer Systems Networking & Telecommunications
31 degrees awarded

In 2024, the most common concentation for Associates Degree recipients in Waterloo, IA was Liberal Arts & Sciences with 239 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of students graduating with a Associates Degree from schools in Waterloo, IA according to their major.

Universities

Gender

Race

Largest Universities by degrees awarded

Hawkeye Community College
1,026 degrees awarded
Allen College
208 degrees awarded

In 2024, the institution with the largest number of graduating students was Hawkeye Community College with 1,026 degrees awarded.

Student Diversity

University

In 2024, 509 men were awarded degrees from institutions in Waterloo, IA, which is 0.702 times less than the 725 female students who received degrees in the same year.

In 2024, the most common race/ethnicity group awarded degrees at institutions was White students. These 997 degrees mean that there were 16.6 times more degrees awarded to White students then the next closest race/ethnicity group, Black or African American, with 60 degrees awarded.

Awarded Degrees over Time

The graph shows the evolution of awarded degrees by degrees. Under the paragraphs, the average number of awarded degrees by university in each degree is shown.

Tuition

Average Net Price by Sector

Universities

Private not-for-profit, 4-year or above ($22,624) is the sector with the highest median state tuition in 2024.

Private not-for-profit, 4-year or above ($2,163) is the sector with the highest median state fee in 2024.

Public, 2-year ($1,136) is the sector with the highest average net price of books and supplies.

The graph shows the average net price by sector and year.

Housing & Living

The median property value in Waterloo, IA was $152,600 in 2024, which is 0.459 times smaller than the national average of $332,700. Between 2023 and 2024 the median property value increased from $150,200 to $152,600, a 1.6% increase. The homeownership rate in Waterloo, IA is 62.1%, which is lower than the national average of 65.2%.

People in Waterloo, IA have an average commute time of 15.9 minutes, and they drove alone to work. Car ownership in Waterloo, IA is approximately the same as the national average, with an average of 2 cars per household.

Housing

Property

$152,600

Median Property Value 2024

±$3,764

$18,177

Median Property Taxes

±$874

The following chart display owner-occupied housing units distributed between a series of property tax buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. In Waterloo, IA the largest share of households pay taxes in the $3k+ range.

The chart underneath the paragraph shows the property taxes in Waterloo, IA compared to it's parent and neighbor geographies.

Rent vs Own

62.1%

Homeownership

2024

63.4%

Homeowners with Mortgage

2024

In 2024, 62.1% of the housing units in Waterloo, IA were occupied by their owner. This percentage grew from the previous year's rate of 61.1%.

This chart shows the percentage of owner in Waterloo, IA compared it's parent and neighboring geographies.

Equity

Household Income

Please note that the buckets used in this visualization were not evenly distributed by ACS when publishing the data.

$57,480

Median Household Income

± $1,797

29.3k

Number of Households

± 1,220

In 2024, the median household income of the 29.3k households in Waterloo, IA grew to $57,480 from the previous year's value of $56,344.

The following chart displays the households in Waterloo, IA distributed between a series of income buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households have an income in the $75k - $100k range.

Wage Distribution

The closest comparable wage GINI for Waterloo, IA is from Iowa.

0.435

2024 Wage GINI in Iowa

0.441

2023 Wage GINI in Iowa

In 2024, the income inequality in Iowa was 0.435 according to the GINI calculation of the wage distribution. Income inequality had a 1.29% decline from 2023 to 2024, which means that wage distribution grew somewhat more even. The GINI for Iowa was lower than than the national average of 0.474. In other words, wages are distributed more evenly in Iowa in comparison to the national average.

This chart shows the number of workers in Iowa across various wage buckets compared to the national average.

Transportation

Commuter Transportation

Most Common Commute in 2024

Drove Alone (78.1%)
Carpooled (11.4%)
Worked At Home (7.59%)

In 2024, 78.1% of workers in Waterloo, IA drove alone to work, followed by those who carpooled to work (11.4%) and those who worked at home (7.59%).

The following chart shows the number of households using each mode of transportation over time, using a logarithmic scale on the y-axis to help better show variations in the smaller means of commuting.

Commute Time

15.9 minutes

Average Travel Time

Using averages, employees in Waterloo, IA have a shorter commute time (15.9 minutes) than the normal US worker (26.4 minutes). Additionally, 1.49% of the workforce in Waterloo, IA have "super commutes" in excess of 90 minutes.

The chart below shows how the median household income in Waterloo, IA compares to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Car Ownership

2 cars

Average Number

The following chart displays the households in Waterloo, IA distributed between a series of car ownership buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households in Waterloo, IA have 2 cars.

Poverty

Poverty & Diversity

16.6% of the population for whom poverty status is determined in Waterloo, IA (10.9k out of 66k people) live below the poverty line, a number that is higher than the national average of 12.5%. The largest demographic living in poverty are Females 25 - 34, followed by Females 18 - 24 and then Females < 5.

The most common racial or ethnic group living below the poverty line in Waterloo, IA is White, followed by Black and Hispanic.

The Census Bureau uses a set of money income thresholds that vary by family size and composition to determine who classifies as impoverished. If a family's total income is less than the family's threshold than that family and every individual in it is considered to be living in poverty.

Social Needs

Data only available at the state level.

Most prevalent states

California
35,798 individuals
New York
5,087 individuals

In 2017, California had the highest estimated number of chronically homeless individuals in the nation, at 35,798, followed by New York (5,087).

The following map shows the estimated number of chronically homeless individuals by state over multiple years.

Keep Exploring