Waterloo, IL

Census place 1779150 · pop 11,129

B74/ 100
👍 Solid
A
in IL
📍 Illinois ranks #39 of 50 states →
🏆 Property crime0/100k · top 3%
🚽 Prop tax1.68% · bottom 19%
Taxes
1.68% property · US 0.99%8.96% sales · US 7.00%4.95% flat income · US 4.63%

Sales & income are statewide.

The breakdown — worst first

Property-tax burden1.68%19

U.S. median 0.99% · worse than most cities

1.68% of home value paid in property tax · Median real-estate taxes paid as a share of home value.

Commute time27 min32

U.S. median 24 min · worse than most cities

27 min average one-way commute · Average one-way commute to work, in minutes.

Adult obesity35.2%48

U.S. median 36.5% · worse than most cities

35.2% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).

Housing cost$249,50057

U.S. median $214,900 · better than most cities

$249,500 median home value · Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.

Bachelor's degree or higher37.3%64

U.S. median 24.3% · better than most cities

37.3% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.

Adult smoking11.4%69

U.S. median 14.6% · better than most cities

11.4% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.

Population growth (5yr)+7.4%73

U.S. median +2.4% · better than most cities

+7.4% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?

Income inequality0.4173

U.S. median 0.43 · better than most cities

Gini 0.41 (0 = equal, 1 = unequal) · Gini index of household income (0 = equal, 1 = unequal).

Poor mental health15.4%74

U.S. median 17.4% · better than most cities

15.4% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).

Median household income$98,71174

U.S. median $67,857 · better than most cities

$98,711 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.

Broadband access94.6%75

U.S. median 90.0% · better than most cities

94.6% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.

Physical inactivity19.4%81

U.S. median 26.5% · better than most cities

19.4% of adults · Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.

Poverty rate5.9%81

U.S. median 12.1% · better than most cities

5.9% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.

Homeownership78.2%83

U.S. median 67.2% · better than most cities

78.2% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.

Natural disaster riskCounty-level55/10087

U.S. median 77/100 · better than most cities

55/100 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.

Uninsured adults5.8%87

U.S. median 9.3% · better than most cities

5.8% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.

Unemployment rateCounty-level2.5%93

U.S. median 3.6% · better than most cities

2.5% unemployment · Share of the labor force out of work. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Violent crime rate0/100k96

U.S. median 152/100k · better than most cities

0 violent crimes per 100k · Violent crimes (murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) per 100,000 residents.

Property crime rate0/100k97

U.S. median 964/100k · better than most cities

0 property crimes per 100k · Burglary, theft, motor-vehicle theft and arson per 100,000 residents.

Not measured for Waterloo: Air, Bad air, Rent. Not every public source covers every city — EPA air monitors and Zillow rent only reach some places, and national crime data is still being added.

Frequently asked

Is Waterloo, IL a good place to live?
By the numbers, Waterloo scores 74/100 — a B (Solid) on Shcity, which ranks U.S. cities on public data across 19 metrics like crime, cost, jobs and health. Its strongest area is property crime rate and its weakest is property-tax burden. Illinois overall ranks #39 of 50 states. Whether it's "good" depends on what you value — re-weight the factors to score it your way.
How safe is Waterloo, IL?
Waterloo reports 0 violent crimes per 100k and 0 property crimes per 100k — better than most U.S. cities on violent crime.
Is Waterloo, IL expensive to live in?
Waterloo has a median home value of $249,500 — more affordable than most U.S. cities.
What's the biggest downside of living in Waterloo, IL?
Its weakest measured area is property-tax burden (1.68%) — 19/100, worse than most U.S. cities.
What is Waterloo, IL best at?
Its strongest measured area is property crime rate (0/100k) — 97/100, better than most U.S. cities.

Sources: U.S. Census (ACS), CDC PLACES, FBI Crime Data Explorer, BLS, EPA AirData, FEMA National Risk Index, and Zillow.