Population 15,530 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Waterloo
Household size in Waterloo
| Period | Waterloo | St. Louis area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.53 | 2.52 | 2.69 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.62 | 2.53 | 2.71 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.42 | 2.49 | 2.66 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.53 | 2.46 | 2.58 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.00 | −0.06 | −0.11 | −0.03 |
Households in Waterloo run a little small, averaging 2.53 people against 2.65 nationally, which usually means more singles and couples and fewer children. That is in line with the rest of the St. Louis area. Households are largest in the northeast and smallest in the center.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Waterloo
| Period | Waterloo | St. Louis area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 41.4 | 38.5 | 37.6 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 42.5 | 39.5 | 38.5 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 42.2 | 40.7 | 39.6 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 43.7 | 40.8 | 40.2 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.4 | +2.3 | +2.6 | +2.3 |
Waterloo skews older than the country: its median age is 43.7, against 40.1 nationally. The median age has climbed from 41.4 in 2006–10, as it has nationally. The youngest areas are in the center, the oldest in the southwest.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Waterloo
| Period | Waterloo | St. Louis area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.3% | 11.7% | 11.7% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 6.3% | 11.5% | 11.7% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 6.0% | 11.0% | 11.1% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 7.0% | 11.1% | 11.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.3 pts | −0.6 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Waterloo: 7.0% of households, against 11.6% nationally. Waterloo has a lower share of single-parent households than most Illinois cities.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Waterloo
Renters in Waterloo
| Period | Waterloo | St. Louis area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 20.4% | 28.3% | 30.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 19.0% | 30.1% | 33.1% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 19.6% | 31.1% | 33.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 16.4% | 29.6% | 32.9% | 34.8% |
| Change | −4.0 pts | +1.4 pts | +2.1 pts | +1.5 pts |
Waterloo is largely a place of homeowners: only 16.4% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Just over four in ten owners (42.0%) have paid off their mortgages, about the same as nationally. The renter share has fallen 4.0 points since 2006–10, even as the national share rose.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Waterloo
| Period | Waterloo | St. Louis area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.9% | 9.6% | 10.0% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 9.2% | 10.1% | 10.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.7% | 10.1% | 9.8% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 7.3% | 8.8% | 8.1% | 9.6% |
| Change | −0.6 pts | −0.8 pts | −1.9 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is on the low side in Waterloo: 7.3% of homes sit empty, against 9.6% nationally, which points to steady demand for housing. Vacancy has edged down 0.6 points since 2006–10, a smaller shift than nationally.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Waterloo
| Period | Waterloo | St. Louis area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1986 | 1972 | 1966 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1984 | 1972 | 1967 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1991 | 1973 | 1968 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1986 | 1975 | 1970 | 1980 |
| Change | +0 | +3 | +4 | +6 |
The housing in Waterloo is younger than the country's: half of it was built after 1986, against 1980 nationally. Newer construction is concentrated in the northeast, while the center has the oldest housing.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Waterloo
| Period | Waterloo | St. Louis area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $745 | $825 | $953 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $886 | $920 | $1,028 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $967 | $1,010 | $1,165 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $983 | $1,239 | $1,428 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$238 | +$414 | +$475 | +$606 |
Rent in Waterloo runs $983 a month at the median, utilities included, well below the U.S. median of $1,571. Rents are up $238 a month from 2006–10, a 32% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 29.8% of household income on rent, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally. The priciest rents are in the west; the most affordable are in the south.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Waterloo
Bachelor's degrees in Waterloo
| Period | Waterloo | St. Louis area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 25.6% | 30.3% | 31.2% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 25.3% | 32.1% | 32.4% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 31.5% | 34.9% | 34.7% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 35.8% | 38.5% | 37.7% | 35.6% |
| Change | +10.2 pts | +8.3 pts | +6.5 pts | +7.2 pts |
More than a third of adults 25 and older in Waterloo (35.8%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, close to the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree has risen 10.2 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally. College graduates are most concentrated in the east and least in the south.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Waterloo
| Period | Waterloo | St. Louis area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 89.5% | 88.8% | 86.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 94.1% | 90.5% | 87.5% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 96.4% | 92.1% | 89.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 95.9% | 93.6% | 90.3% | 89.3% |
| Change | +6.4 pts | +4.8 pts | +4.0 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Waterloo: 95.9% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. The share with a diploma is up 6.4 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Waterloo
| Period | Waterloo | St. Louis area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 4.9% | 7.7% | 8.7% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 4.6% | 8.8% | 10.2% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.3% | 4.9% | 6.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 2.2% | 4.3% | 6.0% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.7 pts | −3.4 pts | −2.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
The job market in Waterloo has been strong: just 2.2% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Only 31 of the 388 Illinois cities with 5,000+ people have lower unemployment. Since 2006–10, unemployment has fallen 2.7 points, mirroring the country.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Waterloo compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waterloo | 2.53 | 43.7 | 7.0% | 16.4% | 7.3% | 1986 | $983 | 35.8% | 95.9% | 2.2% |
| Wartburg | 2.80 | 44.9 | 0.3% | 1.3% | 4.1% | 1984 | $795 | 38.7% | 95.1% | 3.2% |
| Maeystown | 2.65 | 46.9 | 3.7% | 3.1% | 5.0% | 1993 | $755 | 38.1% | 96.6% | 1.8% |
| Foster Pond | 2.87 | 42.4 | 1.8% | 9.3% | 4.7% | 1994 | $1,218 | 35.7% | 95.6% | 2.1% |
| Floraville | 2.54 | 46.6 | 2.7% | 10.0% | 2.6% | 1995 | $1,029 | 33.4% | 97.7% | 0.4% |
| Fountain Gap | 2.77 | 44.0 | 5.9% | 14.1% | 5.0% | 1998 | $1,129 | 27.1% | 93.5% | 0.9% |
| New Hanover | 2.37 | 48.9 | 1.7% | 18.8% | 14.9% | 1993 | $1,117 | 47.4% | 96.3% | 0.1% |
| Tipton | 2.50 | 49.2 | 4.4% | 7.8% | 6.7% | 1991 | $770 | 33.6% | 96.0% | 1.9% |
| Valmeyer | 2.69 | 44.8 | 6.2% | 18.7% | 7.3% | 1996 | $1,086 | 20.4% | 93.5% | 1.0% |
| Madonnaville | 2.80 | 44.9 | 0.3% | 1.3% | 4.1% | 1984 | $795 | 38.7% | 95.1% | 3.2% |
| Columbia | 2.54 | 42.0 | 7.3% | 14.9% | 5.2% | 1986 | $1,192 | 46.2% | 96.8% | 1.9% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Vineyard, UT · Chester, SC · Chester Springs, PA · Clark, NJ · Claymont, DE · Cloverly, MD · Comstock Park, MI · Cordele, GA · Smithfield, VA · Cherryland, CA
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Waterloo. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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