What are the schools like in Waterloo, IN?

Waterloo is served primarily by DeKalb Co Ctl United Sch Dist. The district operates 4 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 17.7:1.

What is the median household income in Waterloo?

The median household income in Waterloo, IN is $59,519 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 6.5%.

What is the weather like in Waterloo, IN?

Waterloo has an average high temperature of 31.7°F in January and 84.0°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 37.0 inches and annual snowfall averages 29.5 inches.

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

Q: Is Waterloo, IN affordable or expensive?

Waterloo's cost of living index is 91, where 100 represents the national average. This means Waterloo is 9% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $104,000 and the median rent is $762 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Waterloo, IN?

Waterloo has a violent crime rate of 6.9 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 177.1 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Waterloo, IN a Good Place to Live?

Waterloo is a small town of 2,136 in Indiana, with a median household income of $59,519 and a 6.5% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 91 (US average = 100), which is 9% below the national average.

Strengths: Waterloo stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. 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: 90.8

Waterloo's overall cost of living index is 90.8, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Waterloo costs roughly 9% less than the average American city.

Metric	Waterloo, IN	National Avg
Median Home Value	$104,000	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$762	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	70.7%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$59,519	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Waterloo's violent crime rate is 6.9 per 100,000 residents — 98% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

6.9 /100k

Property Crime

177.1 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Waterloo is served primarily by DeKalb Co Ctl United Sch Dist. The student-to-teacher ratio is 17.7:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Waterloo, IN	National Avg
School District	DeKalb Co Ctl United Sch Dist	—
Elementary Schools	4	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	17.7:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	11.9%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	87.6%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Waterloo sees average highs of 31.7°F in January and 84.0°F in July, with 37.0 inches of annual precipitation and 29.5 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Waterloo, IN
Average High — January	31.7°F
Average High — July	84.0°F
Annual Precipitation	37.0"
Annual Snowfall	29.5"

Demographics

Metric	Waterloo, IN	National Avg
Population	2,136	—
Median Age	32.8	38.9
Unemployment Rate	6.5%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	23.5 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	89.6%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.1%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	4.6%	18.9%
Asian	0.8%	6.3%
Under 18	24.4%	22.2%
65 and over	8.3%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Corunna, IN 5 mi Auburn, IN 5 mi Ashley, IN 6 mi Hudson, IN 7 mi Garrett, IN 7 mi

ZIP Codes in Waterloo

Waterloo, IN is covered by 1 ZIP code:

46793

Waterloo vs Other Cities

Waterloo, IN vs Corunna, IN Waterloo, IN vs Auburn, IN Waterloo, IN vs Ashley, IN Waterloo, IN vs Hudson, IN Waterloo, IN vs Garrett, IN

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Waterloo, IN affordable or expensive?

Waterloo's cost of living index is 91, where 100 is the national average. That makes Waterloo roughly 9% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $104,000 and median rent is $762/month.

What is the crime rate in Waterloo, IN?

Waterloo's violent crime rate is 6.9 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 177.1 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Waterloo?

Public schools in Waterloo are operated by DeKalb Co Ctl United Sch Dist. The district has 4 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 17.7:1. 11.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Waterloo, IN a good place to live?

Waterloo, IN has a population of 2,136, a median household income of $59,519, and an unemployment rate of 6.5%. 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 Waterloo?

Waterloo averages 31.7°F in January and 84.0°F in July. Annual rainfall is 37.0 inches with about 29.5 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Waterloo?

Waterloo, IN is covered by 1 ZIP code: 46793.

What is the population of Waterloo?

The population of Waterloo, Indiana is 2,136 with a median age of 32.8. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Waterloo?

Key numbers for living in Waterloo: cost of living index 91 (100 = US average), median home $104,000, median household income $59,519, crime index 4 (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.