Waterloo is a small town of 244 in South Carolina, with a median household income of $40,500
and a 2.4% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 93 (US average = 100), which is
7% below the national average.
Strengths:
Waterloo stands out for an affordable cost of living, solid school ratings (B+).
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include longer commutes. 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: 92.8
Waterloo's overall cost of living index is 92.8,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Waterloo costs roughly 7% less than the average American city.
Metric
Waterloo, SC
National Avg
Median Home Value
N/A
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$685
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
90.0%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$40,500
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Near National Average
Waterloo's violent crime rate is 548.2 per 100,000 residents
— 44% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
548.2 /100k
Property Crime
2255.0 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Waterloo is served primarily by Laurens 55.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 10.5:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Waterloo, SC
National Avg
School District
Laurens 55
—
Elementary Schools
6
—
Middle Schools
2
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
10.5:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
27.2%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
83.1%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Waterloo sees average highs of 53.8°F in January
and 90.4°F in July,
with 47.5 inches of annual precipitation
and 1.3 inches of snow per year.
Waterloo's cost of living index is 93, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Waterloo roughly 7% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is N/A and median rent is $685/month.
Waterloo's violent crime rate is 548.2 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2255.0 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Waterloo are operated by Laurens 55.
The district has 6 elementary, 2 middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 10.5:1. 27.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Waterloo, SC has a population of 244, a median household income of $40,500, and an unemployment rate of 2.4%.
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 53.8°F in January and 90.4°F in July. Annual rainfall is 47.5 inches
with about 1.3 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Waterloo, SC is covered by 1 ZIP code: 29384.
The population of Waterloo, South Carolina is 244 with a median age of 30.9. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Waterloo: cost of living index 93 (100 = US average), median home N/A, median household income $40,500, crime index 130 (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.