The Town FilesCedar Falls, Iowa
City in Black Hawk County · population 40,713 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $263,600
- Household income
- $76,987
- Jan low / Jul high
- 11° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 39 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 30
- Median age
- 29.3
Cedar Falls is a city of 40,713 people in Black Hawk County, Iowa. The median home is worth $263,600, above the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks more vibrant than 99% of Iowa towns, better for young professionals than 98% of Iowa towns, hipper than 94% of Iowa towns.
How Cedar Falls ranks
Percentile among Iowa towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Iowa towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Cedar Falls is worth $263,600, above the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 3.4 times the median household income of $76,987, which is more affordable than 5% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $1,203 a month. 64.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Cedar Falls | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $263,600 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $1,203 | $820 |
| Median household income | $76,987 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.4× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 64.0% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1975 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.5% | — |
Who lives in Cedar Falls
| People | Cedar Falls | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 29.3 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.0% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 17.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 50.4% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 15.7% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 4.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.4% | — |
| Work from home | 11.1% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 14.0 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.1% | 88.5% |
Weather in Cedar Falls
July highs average 85.0°F and January lows 10.7°F. About 36.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 39.1 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 15 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 150 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
30 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Cedar Falls since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF5, struck on May 25, 2008 about 6.1 miles from the town center and killed 9. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 11 deaths and 127 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 28, 2020.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 154 times; the largest was 4.75 inches on May 8, 2003.
Severe weather in Black Hawk County since 1996
Black Hawk County has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 23, 2020 | Biological | DR-4483: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3480: Covid-19 |
| October 31, 2016 | Flood | DR-4289: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| August 5, 2014 | Severe Storm | DR-4187: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| July 29, 2010 | Severe Storm | DR-1930: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes |
Jobs and pay in Black Hawk County
Black Hawk County had 70,886 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $59,631 a year. Unemployment was 3.2% in 2023; in Cedar Falls itself the ACS puts it at 3.9%.
Public schools in Cedar Falls
10 public schools with 5,886 students, about 14.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cedar Falls High School | 10-12 | 1,336 | 14.2 |
| Peet Junior High School | 7-9 | 690 | 14.1 |
| Holmes Junior High School | 7-9 | 629 | 13.4 |
| Helen A Hansen Elementary School | PK-6 | 565 | 17.1 |
| Southdale Elementary School | PK-6 | 562 | 15.2 |
| Bess Streeter Aldrich Elementary | PK-6 | 475 | 17.6 |
| Orchard Hill Elementary School | PK-6 | 452 | 13.7 |
| Lincoln Elementary School | PK-6 | 448 | 13.6 |
| Cedar Heights Elementary School | PK-6 | 432 | 12.7 |
| North Cedar Elementary School | PK-6 | 297 | 14.1 |
Towns near Cedar Falls
- Waterloo, IA5.5 mi · 67,314 people · home $152,600
- Hudson, IA5.8 mi · 2,546 people · home $242,700
- Evansdale, IA10.1 mi · 4,561 people · home $150,300
- Waverly, IA14.0 mi · 10,394 people · home $223,300
- Grundy Center, IA19.5 mi · 2,796 people · home $177,900
- Jesup, IA20.0 mi · 2,508 people · home $190,200
- Independence, IA28.3 mi · 6,064 people · home $165,300
- Oelwein, IA29.5 mi · 5,920 people · home $96,300
Cedar Falls questions
Is Cedar Falls, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Cedar Falls scores better for retirees than 19% of Iowa towns and quieter than 1%. 16.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 29.3).
How much does a house cost in Cedar Falls?
The median owner-occupied home in Cedar Falls is valued at $263,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $76,987, so homes cost about 3.4 times income. Median rent is $1,203 a month.
What is the weather like in Cedar Falls?
July highs average 85.0°F and January lows 10.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 36.3 inches of precipitation a year and 39.1 inches of snow.
Does Cedar Falls get tornadoes?
30 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Cedar Falls since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF5 on May 25, 2008. The typical Iowa town has had 24.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)