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Data on this report is based on areas within the legal city boundary, outlined in black on the map. Any additional neighborhoods shown on the map are associated with the city by name and are included for reference only.



Waterloo, IA Real Estate Market

Source & Methodology

Analytics built by:   Location, Inc.

Raw data sources:   American Community Survey (U.S. Census Bureau), U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Federal Housing Finance Agency.

Date(s) & Update Frequency:
  • Home Values, Rents: Reflects Q1 2024. Updated quarterly.
  • Setting, Housing Stock, Homeownership: 2022 (latest available). Updated annually.

Methodology:   NeighborhoodScout uses over 600 characteristics to build a neighborhood profile… Read more about Scout's Real Estate Data

Waterloo, IA Housing Market Trends

With a population of 66,562, 28,947 total housing units (homes and apartments), and a median house value of $181,984, house prices in Waterloo are solidly below the national average.

Single-family detached homes are the single most common housing type in Waterloo, accounting for 68.36% of the city's housing units. Other types of housing that are prevalent in Waterloo include large apartment complexes or high rise apartments ( 18.07%), duplexes, homes converted to apartments or other small apartment buildings ( 6.83%), and a few row houses and other attached homes ( 3.68%).

People in Waterloo primarily live in small (one, two or no bedroom) single-family detached homes. Waterloo has a mixture of owner-occupied and renter-occupied housing.

At the end of World War II, American soldiers returned home triumphant and, with the help of the GI Bill, built homes by the millions on the edges of America's cities. These homes were predominantly capes and ranches, modest in size, but built to house a growing middle-class as the 20th century became the American century. Waterloo's housing was primarily built during this period, from the '40s through the '60s. A full 41.62% of the city's housing hails from this era. Other housing ages represented in Waterloo include homes built between 1970-1999 ( 25.31%) and housing constructed before 1939 ( 21.82%). There's also some housing in Waterloo built between 2000 and later ( 11.25%).

Waterloo Home Appreciation Rates

Waterloo's appreciation rate notably has been below the national average for the last ten years. The average annual home appreciation rate in Waterloo during the period has been just 4.47%, which is lower than 80% of US communities.

Appreciation rates are so strong in Waterloo that despite a nationwide downturn in the housing market, Waterloo real estate has continued to appreciate in value faster than most communities. Looking at just the latest twelve months, Waterloo appreciation rates continue to be some of the highest in America, at 16.82%, which is higher than appreciation rates in 91.17% of the cities and towns in the nation. Based on the last twelve months, short-term real estate investors have found good fortune in Waterloo. Waterloo appreciation rates in the latest quarter were at 7.01%, which equates to an annual appreciation rate of 31.13%.

Importantly, this makes Waterloo one of the highest appreciating communities in the nation for the latest quarter, and may signal the city's near-future real estate investment strength.

Relative to Iowa, our data show that Waterloo's latest annual appreciation rate is higher than 90% of the other cities and towns in Iowa.

One very important thing to keep in mind is that these are average appreciation rates for the city. Individual neighborhoods within Waterloo differ in their investment potential, sometimes by a great deal. Fortunately, you can use NeighborhoodScout to pinpoint the exact neighborhoods in Waterloo - or in any city or town - that have the best track record of real estate appreciation, by the latest quarter, the last year, 2 years, 5 years, 10 years, or even since 2000, to assist you in making the best Waterloo real estate investment or home purchase decisions.

Average Home Values

Median Home Value

$181,984

Waterloo, IA Home Prices
> $1,321,000
$991,001 - $1,321,000
$660,001 - $991,000
$528,001 - $660,000
$396,001 - $528,000
$264,001 - $396,000
$132,001 - $264,000
$66,001 - $132,000
$0 - $66,000
0.6%
0.6%
0.2%
0.2%
1.7%
1.7%
1.6%
1.6%
2.7%
2.7%
15.6%
15.6%
44.2%
44.2%
24.9%
24.9%
8.5%
8.5%
0% 100.0%
% of Homes
Low

for Iowa

Low

for nation

Number of Homes And Apartments:

28,947

Waterloo Appreciation Rates

Rent & Ownership

Average Market Rent:

$1,212 / per month

Homeownership Rate

Owners
Renters
60.0%
60.0%
40.0%
40.0%
0% 100.0%
% of Homes

Vacancy Rate

Vacant
Occupied
9.5%
9.5%
90.5%
90.5%
0% 100.0%
% of Homes

Housing Market Details

Age of Homes

2000 or Newer
1970 - 1999
1940 - 1969
1939 or Older
11.3%
11.3%
25.3%
25.3%
41.6%
41.6%
21.8%
21.8%
0% 100.0%
% of Homes

Types of Homes

Single-Family
Townhomes
Small Apt. Buildings
Apt. Complexes
Mobile Homes
Other
68.4%
68.4%
3.7%
3.7%
6.8%
6.8%
18.1%
18.1%
3.0%
3.0%
0.1%
0.1%
0% 100.0%
% of Homes

Home Size

No Bedroom
1 Bedroom
2 Bedrooms
3 Bedrooms
4 Bedrooms
5 or more bedrooms
2.0%
2.0%
13.2%
13.2%
34.5%
34.5%
37.7%
37.7%
10.2%
10.2%
2.4%
2.4%
0% 100.0%
% of Homes