Waterloo is a small town of 104 in Alabama, with a median household income of $38,750
.
Its cost of living index is 86 (US average = 100), which is
14% below the national average.
Strengths:
Waterloo stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Waterloo is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Waterloo city data on this page comes from official government sources —
the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 85.6
Waterloo's overall cost of living index is 85.6,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Waterloo costs roughly 14% less than the average American city.
Metric
Waterloo, AL
National Avg
Median Home Value
$80,600
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$688
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
83.3%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$38,750
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Safer than Average
Waterloo's violent crime rate is 408.7 per 100,000 residents
— 8% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
408.7 /100k
Property Crime
1469.9 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Waterloo is served primarily by Lauderdale County.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 17.4:1
(slightly above the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Waterloo, AL
National Avg
School District
Lauderdale County
—
Elementary Schools
7
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
7
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
17.4:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
10.5%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
75.6%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Waterloo sees average highs of 49.4°F in January
and 88.4°F in July,
with 59.8 inches of annual precipitation
and 0.7 inches of snow per year.
Waterloo's cost of living index is 86, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Waterloo roughly 14% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $80,600 and median rent is $688/month.
Waterloo's violent crime rate is 408.7 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1469.9 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Waterloo are operated by Lauderdale County.
The district has 7 elementary, several middle, and 7 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 17.4:1. 10.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Waterloo, AL has a population of 104, a median household income of $38,750, and an unemployment rate of 0.0%.
It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Waterloo averages 49.4°F in January and 88.4°F in July. Annual rainfall is 59.8 inches
with about 0.7 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Waterloo, AL is covered by 1 ZIP code: 35677.
The population of Waterloo, Alabama is 104 with a median age of 59.0. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Waterloo: cost of living index 86 (100 = US average), median home $80,600, median household income $38,750, crime index 93 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Waterloo side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
