Waterloo

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Waterloo, IA

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A scenic city in the heart of Cedar Valley

Riverside Scenic Lush Vibrant Diverse Affordable

Located in the Cedar Valley region of northeastern Iowa, Waterloo is a charming mid-sized city spread across the banks of the Cedar River. Residents enjoy a broad range of affordable apartments and condos available for rent in a laidback locale engulfed in lush, natural beauty.

Waterloo touts a diverse, close-knit community, coming together for a bevy of annual events like My Waterloo Days, National Cattle Congress, Iowa’s Irish Fest, and Cedar Valley Pride Fest. Waterloo boasts plenty of excellent opportunities for outdoor recreation at George Wyth State Park, Hartman Reserve, Hope Martin Memorial Park, and numerous golf courses. Waterloo is also home to one of the best water parks in the country, Lost Island, which draws residents and visitors alike.

Entertainment options abound in Waterloo, especially in the extensive Museum District, which offers walkable access to a host of museums, galleries, and venues. The University of Northern Iowa sits just outside of city limits, making Waterloo a top choice for many students, faculty, and staff. Although residents love Waterloo’s down-home charm, the city is also within an hour’s driving distance of Cedar Rapids.

Rent Trends

As of April 2025, the average apartment rent in Waterloo, IA is $755 for a studio, $781 for one bedroom, $962 for two bedrooms, and $1,096 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Waterloo has increased by 0.3% in the past year.

Property Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Apartment
$781/month
588 Sq Ft
House
$1,279/month
997 Sq Ft
Townhome
$1,448/month
969 Sq Ft
See Rental Market Trends in Waterloo, IA

Cost of Living

The cost of living in Waterloo, IA is 14.7% lower than the national average. Generally, housing in Waterloo is 22.3% less expensive than the national average, with rent falling between $755 - $1,096. You can expect to pay 4.7% less for groceries, 18.7% less for utilities, and 5.6% less for transportation.

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Transportation

47

Car-Dependent

out of 100 WalkScore® Rating

This area is considered a car-dependent area and most errands will require a car.

24

Some Transit

out of 100 TransitScore® Rating

You'll likely want a car when living in this area since it has few transit options.

53

Bikeable

out of 100 BikeScore® Rating

While there’s some bike infrastructure in this area, you’ll still need a car for many errands.

Schools

Orange Elementary School

Public

Grades PK-5

521 Students

6
out of 10

Fred Becker Elementary School

Public

Grades PK-5

473 Students

5
out of 10

Highland Elementary School

Public

Grades PK-5

477 Students

4
out of 10

Kingsley Elementary School

Public

Grades K-5

343 Students

4
out of 10

Lowell Elementary School

Public

Grades PK-5

513 Students

3
out of 10

Hoover Middle School

Public

Grades 6-8

883 Students

5
out of 10

George Washington Carver Academy

Public

Grades 6-8

442 Students

2
out of 10

Central Middle School

Public

Grades 6-8

471 Students

1
out of 10

West High School

Public

Grades 9-12

1,652 Students

3
out of 10

East High School

Public

Grades 9-12

1,022 Students

2
out of 10

Points of Interest

Parks and Recreation

  • Phelps Youth Pavilion
  • Bluedorn Science Imaginarium
  • Grout Museum of History & Science
  • Hartman Reserve Nature Center
  • George Wyth State Park

Top Apartments in Waterloo

Houses for Rent in Waterloo

Property Management Companies in Waterloo, IA

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Methodology

† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.

Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.

Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in February 2025.