Bedroom count
Property type
Last updated on November 12, 2026
Average rent in
Waterloo, IA
Average rent in
Last updated on November 12, 2026
Bedroom count
Property type
Key takeaways for renters
Where Waterloo rent stands today
Waterloo, IA rent is essentially flat year over year, with a current median of $825/month. Month over month, rents rose 2.9%, showing recent upward movement after a modest yearly decline of $5 per month on average.
Compared to national trends
Waterloo rents sit 56.6% more affordable than the $1,900/month national median. The market has a total of 195 rentals available, reflecting its scale and accessibility.
Price ranges
Studio rents in Waterloo run around $849/month, 1-bedrooms at $675/month, and 2-bedrooms at $820/month, with 3-bedrooms at $975/month and 4+ bedrooms reaching $1,290/month. The citywide median rent is $825/month.
Neighborhood spotlight
Franklin Gateway rents rose 38.5% year over year to $900/month, contrasting with Downtown Waterloo where rents fell 30.0% to $963/month. These divergent trends show localized shifts within the broader Waterloo market.
Median rent
Median rent in Waterloo
$825/mo
1%vs previous year
The average rent in Waterloo is $825 per month as of November 2026. This is 57% below the national average rent, or $1,075 less per month.
average price per square foot
Total rentals
Available rentals in Waterloo
195
for rent on Zumper.com as of November 2026
Rent price distribution
Share of Waterloo rentals at each price point
Rent trends in Waterloo, IA
Average rent prices in Waterloo have increased by 3% over the last month and have decreased by 1% since last year.
Rent trends
Rent prices on this page are calculated on a rolling 30-day basis and updated daily.
Compare rent prices in
Waterloo, IA
Rent prices in Waterloo vary by bedroom size, rental type, and neighborhood. The average rent for an apartment in Waterloo is $787, whereas a house costs $950. 1-bedroom apartments in Waterloo run $650 on average, while 2-bedroom apartments are $820.
Listings | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Studio | $849 | No Change |  4% | |
1 bedroom | $675 | 3% | 4% | |
2 bedroom | $820 | No Change | 4% | |
3 bedroom | $975 | 1% | 4% | |
4 bedroom | $1,290 | No Change | 1% |
Listings | ||
|---|---|---|
Church Row Historic | $695 | |
Cityview | $897 | |
Common Grounds | $887 | |
Downtown Waterloo | $962 | |
Franklin Gateway | $900 | |
Gates Park | $895 | |
Maples | $900 | |
Park Haven | $875 | |
Riverfront | $987 | |
Unity | $795 |
Listings | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Apartments | $787 | 1% | No Change | |
Condos | $1,200 | 25% | 21% | |
Houses | $950 | 3% | 3% | |
Rooms | $640 | No Change | - |
Studio
Average rent
$849
Last year
4%
1 bedroom
Average rent
$675
Last 30 days
3%
Last year
4%
2 bedroom
Average rent
$820
Last year
4%
3 bedroom
Average rent
$975
Last 30 days
1%
Last year
4%
4 bedroom
Average rent
$1,290
Last year
1%
Church Row Historic
Average rent
$695
Downtown Waterloo
Average rent
$962
Common Grounds
Average rent
$887
Franklin Gateway
Average rent
$900
Riverfront
Average rent
$987
Maples
Average rent
$900
Park Haven
Average rent
$875
Gates Park
Average rent
$895
Cityview
Average rent
$897
Unity
Average rent
$795
Apartments
Average rent
$787
Last 30 days
1%
Last year
No Change
Condos
Average rent
$1,200
Last 30 days
25%
Last year
21%
Houses
Average rent
$950
Last 30 days
3%
Last year
3%
Rooms
Average rent
$640
The table above reflects average rent prices in Waterloo, IA, broken down by the number of bedrooms, neighborhoods, and property types. The availability of data for each category is dependent on market inventory and will adjust depending on your selected filters.
How does rent in Waterloo, IA compare to other cities?
Compare median rent prices in Waterloo and Altoona by all bedroom counts and property types.
Waterloo
57%lower than the national median
45%lower than the national median
Takeaway
The median rent for all rentals in Waterloo, IA is 21% lower than the median rent in Altoona, IA.
Average rent in nearby cities
Explore rent trends in neighboring markets
$1,049
2%$1,300
8%$1,225
26%$1,225
6%$895
$1,555
14%$1,200
55%$812
5%$800
16%$1,550
15%$1,450
4%$1,175
3%Cost of living in Waterloo, IA
Explore the cost of essential expenses, and then use our rent calculator to find out how much rent you can afford.
Expenses accrued by most renters | Average cost compared to national average |
|---|---|
| Goods & Services | 10% lower |
| Groceries | 3% lower |
| Health | 8% lower |
| Housing | 13% lower |
| Transportation | 11% lower |
| Utilities | 19% lower |
Discover rentals in Waterloo, IA
1d ago
1815 Lafayette St, Waterloo, IA 50703
1 bed
1 bath
$400
Fees may apply. The price shown reflects base rent. Complete fee information is not available from the property, so additional fees may increase the total monthly cost.Apartment for rent
2d ago
Verified
6025 Donegal Cir, Waterloo, IA 50701
4 beds
2 baths
$580–$2,160
Total Monthly Price. The price shown includes base rent and all known required monthly fees, based on information provided by the property.Apartment for rent
5d+ ago
Apartment for rent in Waterloo
1424 1/2 Grant Ave #1, Waterloo, IA 50702
2 beds
1 bath
$595
Fees may apply. The price shown reflects base rent. Complete fee information is not available from the property, so additional fees may increase the total monthly cost.Apartment for rent
Available Nov 3
5d+ ago
Common Grounds apartment for rent in Waterloo
118 Harrison St #1, Waterloo, IA 50703
2 beds
1 bath
$600
Fees may apply. The price shown reflects base rent. Complete fee information is not available from the property, so additional fees may increase the total monthly cost.Apartment for rent
Available Nov 6
5d+ ago
House for rent in Waterloo
1710 Huntington Rd, Waterloo, IA 50701
3 beds
1 bath
$2,000
Fees may apply. The price shown reflects base rent. Complete fee information is not available from the property, so additional fees may increase the total monthly cost.House for rent
5d+ ago
Townhouse for rent in Waterloo
345 Norris Ct, Waterloo, IA 50701
3 beds
2 baths
$2,000
Additional fees apply. The price shown reflects base rent. Based on information provided by the property, additional fees may apply, but no required monthly charges have been confirmed. See all fees for details.House for rent
Available Oct 15
5d+ ago
105 Harvey Dr, Waterloo, IA 50701
3 beds
3 baths
$1,900
Fees may apply. The price shown reflects base rent. Complete fee information is not available from the property, so additional fees may increase the total monthly cost.House for rent
17h ago
Verified
335 Cedar St, Waterloo, IA 50701
Studio–2 beds
1–2 baths
$1,110–$1,800
Fees may apply. The price shown reflects base rent. Complete fee information is not available from the property, so additional fees may increase the total monthly cost.Apartment for rent
14h ago
250 W Hills Ln, Waterloo, IA 50701
2 beds
2 baths
$1,295
Fees may apply. The price shown reflects base rent. Complete fee information is not available from the property, so additional fees may increase the total monthly cost.Apartment for rent
16h ago
3729 W 9th St, Waterloo, IA 50702
2 beds
1 bath
$850
Fees may apply. The price shown reflects base rent. Complete fee information is not available from the property, so additional fees may increase the total monthly cost.Apartment for rent
1d ago
House for rent in Waterloo
3 beds
1 bath
$1,385
Fees may apply. The price shown reflects base rent. Complete fee information is not available from the property, so additional fees may increase the total monthly cost.House for rent
1d ago
230 W Hills Ln, Waterloo, IA 50701
2 beds
2 baths
$1,295
Fees may apply. The price shown reflects base rent. Complete fee information is not available from the property, so additional fees may increase the total monthly cost.Apartment for rent
2d ago
Verified
6025 Donegal Cir, Waterloo, IA 50701
4 beds
2 baths
$580–$2,160
Total Monthly Price. The price shown includes base rent and all known required monthly fees, based on information provided by the property.Apartment for rent
4d ago
Verified
1008 Leavitt St, Waterloo, IA 50702
2 beds
1 bath
$950
Fees may apply. The price shown reflects base rent. Complete fee information is not available from the property, so additional fees may increase the total monthly cost.Apartment for rent
5d+ ago
Verified
215 Miriam Drive, Waterloo, IA 50702
2 beds
1 bath
$795
Fees may apply. The price shown reflects base rent. Complete fee information is not available from the property, so additional fees may increase the total monthly cost.Apartment for rent
Available Oct 22
17h ago
Verified
238 Palmer Drive, Waterloo, IA 50702
2 beds
1 bath
$820
Price droppedFees may apply. The price shown reflects base rent. Complete fee information is not available from the property, so additional fees may increase the total monthly cost.Apartment for rent
Available Nov 3
1d ago
1838 W 3rd St, Waterloo, IA 50701
2 beds
1 bath
$750
Fees may apply. The price shown reflects base rent. Complete fee information is not available from the property, so additional fees may increase the total monthly cost.Apartment for rent
5d+ ago
House for rent in Waterloo
3 beds
2 baths
$950
Price dropped $50Fees may apply. The price shown reflects base rent. Complete fee information is not available from the property, so additional fees may increase the total monthly cost.House for rent
5d+ ago
Mullan Townhomes, Waterloo, IA 50701
2 beds
1 bath
$625–$675
Fees may apply. The price shown reflects base rent. Complete fee information is not available from the property, so additional fees may increase the total monthly cost.Apartment for rent
5d+ ago
House for rent in Waterloo
2 beds
1 bath
$1,200
Fees may apply. The price shown reflects base rent. Complete fee information is not available from the property, so additional fees may increase the total monthly cost.House for rent
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Frequently asked questions for Waterloo, IA
Quick answers to common questions about the Waterloo rental market.
How much is rent in Waterloo?
The average rent in Waterloo is $825 per month as of November 7, 2026.
Is rent up or down in Waterloo?
Average rent prices in Waterloo have increased by 3% over the last month and have decreased by 1% since last year.
How does Waterloo rent compare to the national average?
Rent in Waterloo is 57% below the national average, which means renters are paying approximately $1,075 less per month.
Which neighborhoods are most affordable in Waterloo?
The most affordable neighborhoods in Waterloo are Church Row Historic ($695/mo), Unity ($795/mo), and Park Haven ($875/mo).
What salary do I need to afford rent in Waterloo?
To comfortably afford rent in Waterloo, you'd need to earn approximately $33,000/year, based on spending no more than 30% of your income on rent.
When is the best time of year to rent in Waterloo?
April offers the best rental prices in Waterloo, with rents running about 7% lower than July's peak pricing, though you'll face higher competition for available units.
Methodology
Rent prices are based on Zumper's rental listings from the past 30 days. Median rent is calculated across all available listings and property types on the platform. If you filter the page by bedroom count or property type, the pricing throughout the page will update automatically to reflect that segment of the rental market.
Household and population data come from the U.S. Census Bureau. Cost-of-living data is sourced from the Council for Community and Economic Research's Cost of Living Index (COLI).