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Living in
Waverly.
About
Life in Waverly
Waverly is a community of 10,446 people in Iowa. The median household income is $80,284, median rent runs about $1,057 per month, and median home values are around $223,300. Unemployment is low at 3.3%, suggesting a relatively healthy local job market.
Waverly at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
32.8 yrs
Poverty Rate
10.9%
Foreign-Born
2.7%
Broadband Internet
94.2%
of households
Population Growth
+1.5%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics2.7% foreign-born, most often from Ivory Coast
Who lives in Waverly: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Waverly, the largest foreign-born group is from Ivory Coast (15.3%), and 1.2% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
20.6%
of residents
65 and Older
18.6%
of residents
Households with Kids
29.2%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
28.3%
of households
Married Couples
49.2%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.36
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 9% above IA average
Rent, home values, and income in Waverly
In Waverly, rent runs 9% above the IA average, and home values are 7% above the IA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
32.3%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
14.5%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
87.1
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$3,273
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
69.0%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1977
median year built
Vacant Homes
6.2%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $279,813 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for IA
Unemployment in Waverly
Unemployment in Bremer County, which includes Waverly, is close to the IA average.
Unemployment rate
Waverly: Bremer County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Bremer County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Waverly Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute17.2 min avg
How Waverly residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Waverly, most residents drive alone to work (68%), and 79% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 12 mi
Waterloo Regional Airport (ALO)
Regional airport · few flights20k passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 61% below national average
Crime rates for 2024
Violent crime in Waverly runs 61% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
141.3
per 100,000 residents
Below average (363 national, 2024)
Property Crime Rate
895.3
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,767 national, 2024)
Waverly Police Department
Natural DisastersDrought most common — 8 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Very Low
24.6 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Bremer County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Bremer County, which includes Waverly, the most common type is drought, with 8 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 8 | High Wind | $20,000 |
| 2024 | 15 | Drought | None reported |
| 2023 | 15 | Drought | None reported |
| 2022 | 8 | Extreme Cold/Wind Chill | None reported |
| 2021 | 14 | Drought | $1.0M |
| 2020 | 5 | Heavy Rain | None reported |
| 2019 | 13 | Winter Storm | $252,000 |
| 2018 | 17 | Heavy Rain | $200,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Bremer County, county-wide
Air Quality38 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Bremer County, which includes Waverly, is typically good.
Median AQI
38
Bremer County, county-wide
Climate83°F summers, 14°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Waverly has warm summers (avg high 83°F) and very cold winters (avg low 14°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
60°/38°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
83°/62°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
62°/40°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
32°/14°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
36.3"
Annual Snowfall
39.1"
Hot Days/Year
15
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
150
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
114
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 28°F | 11°F | 1.10" |
| Feb | 33°F | 15°F | 1.14" |
| Mar | 47°F | 27°F | 1.98" |
| Apr | 61°F | 38°F | 4.04" |
| May | 73°F | 50°F | 4.61" |
| Jun | 82°F | 61°F | 5.72" |
| Jul | 85°F | 64°F | 4.34" |
| Aug | 83°F | 61°F | 4.17" |
| Sep | 77°F | 52°F | 3.14" |
| Oct | 63°F | 40°F | 2.76" |
| Nov | 47°F | 28°F | 1.85" |
| Dec | 34°F | 17°F | 1.44" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 5.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Waverly
Waverly has 1 hospital, averaging 5.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — above-average care.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
3.0%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
5.0 / 5
Waverly Health Center
Critical Access Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Sartori Memorial Hospital, Inc.
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 13.2 mi away · Cedar Falls
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education15.1:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Waverly
Waverly's student/teacher ratio is 15.1:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 44.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
6
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
44.1%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.1:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Waverly
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,452 students · in-state tuition $27,300 · 67% graduate · median earnings $60,035 (10 yrs after entry)
Nearby Colleges (within 15 miles)
Public · 4-year · 7,529 students · in-state tuition $10,201 · 68% graduate · median earnings $57,187 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 261 students · 90% graduate · median earnings $74,338 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Effigy Mounds National Monument, 69 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Waverly
Waverly has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Effigy Mounds National Monument (69 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Effigy Mounds National Monument
National Monument
69 mi awayHerbert Hoover National Historic Site
National Historic Site
93 mi awayPublic Libraries in Waverly
Waverly Public Library
1500 W Bremer Ave, Waverly
Cities Near Waverly
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Waverly?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Waverly FAQ
Is Waverly, Iowa affordable?⌄
Waverly's median rent is $1,057/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $80,284/year. Median home value is $223,300.
Is Waverly, Iowa safe?⌄
Waverly's violent crime rate was 141 per 100,000 residents in 2024, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 363/100k that year. Property crime rate is 895 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Waverly, Iowa?⌄
Bremer County, which includes Waverly, has an unemployment rate of 3.3%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Waverly, Iowa?⌄
The cost of living in Waverly is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,057/month and median household income is $80,284/year. The median home value is $223,300. About 32% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Waverly, Iowa?⌄
The average commute in Waverly is 17 minutes, which is shorter than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from