What are the schools like in Waterloo, NY?

Waterloo is served primarily by WATERLOO CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT. The district operates 2 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 9.6:1.

What is the median household income in Waterloo?

The median household income in Waterloo, NY is $65,712 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 6.3%.

What is the weather like in Waterloo, NY?

Waterloo has an average high temperature of 30.4°F in January and 79.4°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 37.7 inches and annual snowfall averages 56.6 inches.

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

Q: Is Waterloo, NY affordable or expensive?

Waterloo's cost of living index is 94, where 100 represents the national average. This means Waterloo is 6% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $106,500 and the median rent is $868 per month.

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

Waterloo has a violent crime rate of 35.3 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 252.8 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Waterloo, NY a Good Place to Live?

Waterloo is a small town of 4,587 in New York, with a median household income of $65,712 and a 6.3% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 94 (US average = 100), which is 6% below the national average.

Strengths: Waterloo stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B+), 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: 94.2

Waterloo's overall cost of living index is 94.2, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Waterloo costs roughly 6% less than the average American city.

Metric	Waterloo, NY	National Avg
Median Home Value	$106,500	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$868	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	70.0%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$65,712	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Waterloo's violent crime rate is 35.3 per 100,000 residents — 91% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

35.3 /100k

Property Crime

252.8 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Waterloo is served primarily by WATERLOO CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT. The student-to-teacher ratio is 9.6:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Waterloo, NY	National Avg
School District	WATERLOO CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	—
Elementary Schools	2	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	9.6:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	22.6%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	90.9%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Waterloo sees average highs of 30.4°F in January and 79.4°F in July, with 37.7 inches of annual precipitation and 56.6 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Waterloo, NY
Average High — January	30.4°F
Average High — July	79.4°F
Annual Precipitation	37.7"
Annual Snowfall	56.6"

Demographics

Metric	Waterloo, NY	National Avg
Population	4,587	—
Median Age	48.1	38.9
Unemployment Rate	6.3%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	20.6 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	88.7%	59.3%
Black or African American	2.7%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	3.4%	18.9%
Asian	0.5%	6.3%
Under 18	18.3%	22.2%
65 and over	23.7%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Seneca Falls, NY 3 mi Cayuga, NY 7 mi Geneva, NY 7 mi Union Springs, NY 10 mi Romulus, NY 11 mi

ZIP Codes in Waterloo

Waterloo, NY is covered by 1 ZIP code:

13165

Waterloo vs Other Cities

Waterloo, NY vs Seneca Falls, NY Waterloo, NY vs Cayuga, NY Waterloo, NY vs Geneva, NY Waterloo, NY vs Union Springs, NY Waterloo, NY vs Romulus, NY

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Waterloo, NY affordable or expensive?

Waterloo's cost of living index is 94, where 100 is the national average. That makes Waterloo roughly 6% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $106,500 and median rent is $868/month.

What is the crime rate in Waterloo, NY?

Waterloo's violent crime rate is 35.3 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 252.8 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 WATERLOO CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT. The district has 2 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 9.6:1. 22.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Waterloo, NY a good place to live?

Waterloo, NY has a population of 4,587, a median household income of $65,712, and an unemployment rate of 6.3%. 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 30.4°F in January and 79.4°F in July. Annual rainfall is 37.7 inches with about 56.6 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Waterloo?

Waterloo, NY is covered by 1 ZIP code: 13165.

What is the population of Waterloo?

The population of Waterloo, New York is 4,587 with a median age of 48.1. 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 94 (100 = US average), median home $106,500, median household income $65,712, crime index 10 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B+. 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.