Affordable Waterloo Storage Units

Moving and storage go hand in hand. Whether traveling across town or the country, moving is an exciting and fresh start. While Storage Rentals of America is here to help you with all your storage needs, we also want to help you get familiar with the area. That's why we put together this resource guide for Waterloo, Iowa.

About Waterloo, IA

Waterloo is one of several cities nestled along Iowa's Cedar River. The Black Hawk County, Waterloo county seat is located directly east of Cedar Falls (the two cities are collectively referred to as the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Metro Area). Around 67,000 people call Waterloo home, making it the 8th largest city in Iowa.

The area that makes up present-day Waterloo was first settled in 1845 and was originally known as Prairie Rapids Crossing. The city was known as a railway hub during the early part of the 20th century and also came to be recognized for agriculture and manufacturing.

What to do in Waterloo, IA

There's always something to see and do in the Waterloo area! From festivals and outdoor adventures to art and culture, these are some of the top attractions in Waterloo and the surrounding areas:

• Parks and Trails: Waterloo is just a few short miles from George Wyeth State Park, a popular destination for hiking, camping, fishing and boating on the Cedar River. Another great local resource is the Cedar Valley Nature Trail. This 52-mile linear park connects Waterloo to the nearby cities of Cedar Falls and Cedar Rapids and is open to bicycles and foot traffic.
• Festivals and Events: Numerous annual festivals are staples of the yearly calendar in Waterloo, especially during the summer months. Corn Country Fest is a country music festival that takes place in July, and the Iowa Irish Fest is a celebration of Irish culture that returns to Waterloo every August.
• Museums: Several unique museums are located in Waterloo, including the Sullivan Brothers Iowa Veterans Museum, which is dedicated to all Iowa war veterans from the Civil War to the present. Waterloo is also home to the John Deere Tractor & Engine Museum, and the Dan Gable Wrestling Museum.

Working in Waterloo, IA

The job market in Waterloo, Iowa, is divided fairly evenly between jobs that are considered traditionally blue-collar and white-collar. The current unemployment rate is below the national average of 5.6%, and recent job growth has been positive. Just over 22% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's degree or higher, which is slightly above average.

Manufacturing is the leading industry in Waterloo, followed by health care and social assistance, retail trade, education, accommodation, and food services. Waterloo's largest employers are John Deere, Covenant Health Systems, Tyson, Allen Memorial Hospital, and Waterloo Community Schools.

Waterloo, IA Neighborhoods

Waterloo is a small city in terms of population, but at 63 square miles, it spans quite a large area. As such, Waterloo has multiple unique neighborhoods, each with its distinct atmosphere. Some of the best places to live in Waterloo, Iowa, include:

• Church Row: The historic Church Row neighborhood is a great place to find affordable housing, with a median real estate value of $86,300. The neighborhood is dominated by small to medium single-family homes, most built before 1940. True to its name, Church Row is known for its abundance of churches and is currently considered a neighborhood on the rise.
• Liberty Park: A mostly residential area made up of medium-sized single-family houses and townhomes built around the middle of the 20th century, Liberty Park is centered around the park that shares its name. It's a family-friendly neighborhood with a median real estate value of $123,600; most houses are owner-occupied.
• Castle Hill: Stretching northwest of Downtown Waterloo, Castle Hill is a large suburban neighborhood with numerous medium single-family homes that have a median real estate price of $179,000. Many residences here are well-established homes from 1940 to 1960, but the neighborhood also has more modern developments.
• Riverfront: Located alongside the Cedar River, the Riverfront neighborhood is home to Waterloo Riverfront Stadium as well as an extensive area of parkland overlooking the river. Small single-family homes and various apartment buildings make up the residential portion of this neighborhood, and a median real estate value of $79,500 makes it a great place to find an affordable home.

Waterloo, IA School District

Public Schools in Waterloo, IA, are part of the Waterloo Community Schools District, which encompasses an area of about 150 square miles within Black Hawk County. The district serves approximately 10,555 students across 19 schools in and around the Waterloo area.

Waterloo also offers several options for higher education. The main campus of Hawkeye Community College is located in Waterloo, as is Allen College. The University of Northern Iowa is located just minutes away in Cedar Falls.

Moving to Waterloo, IA Resource Guide

You'll find a wide variety of resources available if you're planning on moving to Waterloo, including this Discover Waterloo Guide from the official city website. The City of Waterloo also provides a lot of additional resources, including useful info on the local Police and Fire Department.

Be sure also to visit the Department of Sports & Recreation to learn more about local parks, trails, and recreation facilities. And let's not forget about utilities! Check in with the Waterloo Utilities Department about setting up water and sewer service or getting your natural gas and electricity hooked up.

Waterloo, IA Housing

The overall cost of living in Waterloo is very affordable. That includes housing costs, which are well below the national average. The median home cost in Waterloo is $116,200, while rental rates range from $641 monthly for a typical one-bedroom apartment to $1,360 for a four-bedroom apartment.