The Town FilesWaterloo, Nebraska
Village in Douglas County · population 935 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $231,400
- Household income
- $67,941
- Jan low / Jul high
- 15° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 32 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 23
- Median age
- 38.0
Waterloo is a village of 935 people in Douglas County, Nebraska. The median home is worth $231,400, above the typical Nebraska town ($154,800). It ranks more upscale than 99% of Nebraska towns, better for retirees than 96% of Nebraska towns, better transit than 96% of Nebraska towns.
How Waterloo ranks
Percentile among Nebraska towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Nebraska towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Waterloo is worth $231,400, above the typical Nebraska town ($154,800). Homes cost about 3.4 times the median household income of $67,941, which is more affordable than 6% of Nebraska towns. Median rent is $1,300 a month. 71.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Waterloo | Typical Nebraska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $231,400 | $154,800 |
| Median rent | $1,300 | $818 |
| Median household income | $67,941 | $66,320 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.4× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 71.1% | 73.2% |
| Median year built | 1998 | 1963 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Waterloo
| People | Waterloo | Typical Nebraska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.0 | 39.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.4% | 20.8% |
| Under 18 | 21.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 18.7% | 22.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.6% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 5.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.3% | — |
| Work from home | 11.7% | 5.2% |
| Average commute | 23.4 min | 19.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 97.9% | 87.8% |
Weather in Waterloo
July highs average 86.5°F and January lows 15.3°F. About 33.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 31.8 inches of snow (typical Nebraska town: 28.6 in). Expect about 25 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 136 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Waterloo since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Nebraska town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF4, struck on April 26, 2024 about 1.3 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 32 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 21, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 225 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on May 4, 2003.
Severe weather in Douglas County since 1996
Douglas County has been included in 29 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| October 22, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4896: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| May 21, 2025 | Winter Storm | DR-4868: Severe Winter Storm And Straight-Line Winds |
| October 21, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4838: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| September 24, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4822: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| August 20, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4808: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Douglas County
Douglas County had 340,716 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $67,868 a year. Unemployment was 2.6% in 2023; in Waterloo itself the ACS puts it at 1.3%.
Public schools in Waterloo
9 public schools with 4,687 students, about 14.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| ELKHORN HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 749 | 15.3 |
| ELKHORN MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 638 | 14.2 |
| ELKHORN VALLEY VIEW MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 622 | 14.1 |
| BLUE SAGE ELEMENTARY | PK-5 | 612 | 15.7 |
| ARBOR VIEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 496 | 14.2 |
| FIRE RIDGE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 476 | 15.4 |
| SKYLINE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 402 | 15.5 |
| WESTRIDGE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 373 | 14.3 |
| HILLRISE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 319 | 12.3 |
Towns near Waterloo
- Valley, NE4.4 mi · 3,037 people · home $528,100
- Yutan, NE6.3 mi · 1,347 people · home $198,800
- Bennington, NE8.7 mi · 2,026 people · home $333,100
- Chalco, NE10.7 mi · 11,064 people · home $238,600
- Mead, NE11.2 mi · 617 people · home $166,400
- Gretna, NE11.9 mi · 5,083 people · home $341,600
- Arlington, NE12.2 mi · 1,300 people · home $225,400
- Omaha, NE12.3 mi · 486,051 people · home $245,500
Waterloo questions
Is Waterloo, Nebraska a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Waterloo scores better for retirees than 96% of Nebraska towns and quieter than 74%. 18.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.0).
How much does a house cost in Waterloo?
The median owner-occupied home in Waterloo is valued at $231,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $67,941, so homes cost about 3.4 times income. Median rent is $1,300 a month.
What is the weather like in Waterloo?
July highs average 86.5°F and January lows 15.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 33.1 inches of precipitation a year and 31.8 inches of snow.
Does Waterloo get tornadoes?
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Waterloo since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF4 on April 26, 2024. The typical Nebraska town has had 23.
- 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)