Cedar Falls, IA
Census place 1911755 · pop 40,888
Sales & income are statewide.
The breakdown — worst first
U.S. median +2.4% · worse than most cities
-0.2% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?
U.S. median 3.6% · worse than most cities
4.2% unemployment · Share of the labor force out of work. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median 0.99% · worse than most cities
1.40% of home value paid in property tax · Median real-estate taxes paid as a share of home value.
U.S. median 12.1% · worse than most cities
15.7% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.
U.S. median 42 AQI · worse than most cities
47 median AQI · Median air quality index — lower is cleaner air. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median 36.5% · worse than most cities
37.0% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).
U.S. median 0.43 · worse than most cities
Gini 0.45 (0 = equal, 1 = unequal) · Gini index of household income (0 = equal, 1 = unequal).
U.S. median 17.4% · worse than most cities
17.2% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).
U.S. median 67.2% · better than most cities
64.0% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.
U.S. median $67,857 · better than most cities
$76,987 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.
U.S. median $214,900 · better than most cities
$263,600 median home value · Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.
U.S. median 14.6% · better than most cities
12.5% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.
U.S. median 77/100 · better than most cities
82/100 FEMA risk (higher = riskier) · FEMA National Risk Index — wildfire, flood, earthquake, heat and more. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median 90.0% · better than most cities
93.1% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
U.S. median $1,756/mo · better than most cities
$1,375/mo typical rent · Typical monthly rent (Zillow Observed Rent Index, all home types).
U.S. median 26.5% · better than most cities
20.1% of adults · Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.
U.S. median 24.3% · better than most cities
50.4% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.
U.S. median 1 days · better than most cities
0 unhealthy-air days per year · Days per year with unhealthy air (AQI above 100). Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median 9.3% · better than most cities
5.9% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.
U.S. median 152/100k · better than most cities
22 violent crimes per 100k · Violent crimes (murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) per 100,000 residents.
U.S. median 964/100k · better than most cities
142 property crimes per 100k · Burglary, theft, motor-vehicle theft and arson per 100,000 residents.
U.S. median 24 min · better than most cities
14 min average one-way commute · Average one-way commute to work, in minutes.
Frequently asked
- Is Cedar Falls, IA a good place to live?
- By the numbers, Cedar Falls scores 61/100 — a C (Meh) on Shcity, which ranks U.S. cities on public data across 22 metrics like crime, cost, jobs and health. Its strongest area is commute time and its weakest is population growth (5yr). Iowa overall ranks #11 of 50 states. Whether it's "good" depends on what you value — re-weight the factors to score it your way.
- How safe is Cedar Falls, IA?
- Cedar Falls reports 22 violent crimes per 100k and 142 property crimes per 100k — better than most U.S. cities on violent crime.
- Is Cedar Falls, IA expensive to live in?
- Cedar Falls has a median home value of $263,600 and typical rent around $1,375/mo — more affordable than most U.S. cities.
- What's the biggest downside of living in Cedar Falls, IA?
- Its weakest measured area is population growth (5yr) (-0.2%) — 28/100, worse than most U.S. cities.
- What is Cedar Falls, IA best at?
- Its strongest measured area is commute time (14 min) — 97/100, better than most U.S. cities. Fun fact: Home of the University of Northern Iowa.
Sources: U.S. Census (ACS), CDC PLACES, FBI Crime Data Explorer, BLS, EPA AirData, FEMA National Risk Index, and Zillow.