What are the schools like in Waverly, IA?

Waverly is served primarily by Waverly-Shell Rock Comm School District. The district operates 3 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 2 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 13.5:1.

What is the median household income in Waverly?

The median household income in Waverly, IA is $78,278 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 2.7%.

What is the weather like in Waverly, IA?

Waverly has an average high temperature of 28.2°F in January and 85.0°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 36.3 inches and annual snowfall averages 39.1 inches.

Waverly, IA Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Waverly, IA affordable or expensive?

Waverly's cost of living index is 88, where 100 represents the national average. This means Waverly is 12% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $211,000 and the median rent is $861 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Waverly, IA?

Waverly has a violent crime rate of 141.4 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 885.9 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Waverly, IA a Good Place to Live?

Waverly is a small city of 10,399 in Iowa, with a median household income of $78,278 and a 2.7% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 88 (US average = 100), which is 12% below the national average.

Strengths: Waverly stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (A-), a well-educated population, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Waverly is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Waverly 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: 88.0

Waverly's overall cost of living index is 88.0, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Waverly costs roughly 12% less than the average American city.

Metric	Waverly, IA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$211,000	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$861	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	76.4%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$78,278	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Waverly's violent crime rate is 141.4 per 100,000 residents — 63% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

141.4 /100k

Property Crime

885.9 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Waverly is served primarily by Waverly-Shell Rock Comm School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.5:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Waverly, IA	National Avg
School District	Waverly-Shell Rock Comm School District	—
Elementary Schools	3	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	2	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	13.5:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	40.8%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	95.4%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Waverly sees average highs of 28.2°F in January and 85.0°F in July, with 36.3 inches of annual precipitation and 39.1 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Waverly, IA
Average High — January	28.2°F
Average High — July	85.0°F
Annual Precipitation	36.3"
Annual Snowfall	39.1"

Demographics

Metric	Waverly, IA	National Avg
Population	10,399	—
Median Age	33.5	38.9
Unemployment Rate	2.7%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	15.5 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	90.0%	59.3%
Black or African American	2.9%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	3.0%	18.9%
Asian	1.7%	6.3%
Under 18	20.3%	22.2%
65 and over	19.5%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Janesville, IA 5 mi Shell Rock, IA 6 mi Denver, IA 8 mi Plainfield, IA 9 mi Clarksville, IA 11 mi

ZIP Codes in Waverly

Waverly, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

50677

Waverly vs Other Cities

Waverly, IA vs Janesville, IA Waverly, IA vs Shell Rock, IA Waverly, IA vs Denver, IA Waverly, IA vs Plainfield, IA Waverly, IA vs Clarksville, IA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Waverly, IA affordable or expensive?

Waverly's cost of living index is 88, where 100 is the national average. That makes Waverly roughly 12% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $211,000 and median rent is $861/month.

What is the crime rate in Waverly, IA?

Waverly's violent crime rate is 141.4 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 885.9 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Waverly?

Public schools in Waverly are operated by Waverly-Shell Rock Comm School District. The district has 3 elementary, 1 middle, and 2 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.5:1. 40.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Waverly, IA a good place to live?

Waverly, IA has a population of 10,399, a median household income of $78,278, and an unemployment rate of 2.7%. 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.

What is the weather like in Waverly?

Waverly averages 28.2°F in January and 85.0°F in July. Annual rainfall is 36.3 inches with about 39.1 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Waverly?

Waverly, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 50677.

What is the population of Waverly?

The population of Waverly, Iowa is 10,399 with a median age of 33.5. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Waverly?

Key numbers for living in Waverly: cost of living index 88 (100 = US average), median home $211,000, median household income $78,278, crime index 39 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Waverly side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.