Cedar Falls, Iowa
Among the top 9% of US places for safety & wellbeing.
AffordabilityAffordability: grade C, better than 40% of US places
WeatherWeather: grade C, better than 48% of US places
Safety & WellbeingSafety & Wellbeing: grade A, better than 91% of US places
Getting AroundGetting Around: grade B+, better than 76% of US places
Lifestyle & ConnectivityLifestyle & Connectivity: grade B, better than 56% of US places
- top 3% for commute time
- top 6% for cost of living
- bottom 12% for air quality
Cedar Falls is a mid-size city in Iowa with about 41,000 residents. It grades A for safety & wellbeing and C for affordability. Standout strengths include commute time, cost of living, and property crime. It rates lower on airport distance and air quality.
Official websiteci.cedar-falls.ia.us (opens in new tab)
Climate
Warm summers · Harsh winters · Moderate rain · Snowy
freez.
v.cold
cold
cool
comf.
warm
cool
cold
v.cold
78%53%clearovercast
Precipitation 4.7 in1.2 in
humid 91%dry
Livability factors
Affordability
Median Household Income$71k62nd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Cost of Living$41kbetter than 94% of US places
Home Value$245k70th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Monthly Rent$1kbetter than 32% of US places
Monthly Owner Costs$2kbetter than 29% of US places
Property Tax Rate1.50%better than 25% of US places
Income Tax6.00%better than 29% of US places
Sales Tax6.94%better than 68% of US places
Estimated total tax burden13.46%better than 23% of US places
Unemployment3.0%better than 59% of US places
Weather
Winter Temp (Jan)19°F11th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Summer Temp (Jul)74°F39th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Precipitation36.3 in34th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Snowfall39.1 inbetter than 22% of US places
Sunny Days233 daysbetter than 50% of US places
Summer Humidity64°Fbetter than 49% of US places
Comfortable Days89 daysbetter than 68% of US places
Safety & Wellbeing
Natural Disaster Risk28.1better than 91% of US places
Air Quality52 AQIbetter than 12% of US places
School Quality67.7better than 63% of US places
Violent Crime0/100kbetter than 93% of US places
Property Crime0/100kbetter than 94% of US places
Community
Population40,68697th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Median Age28.06th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Racial Diversity0.1541st percentile — neutral, not ranked
Male/Female Ratio0.9030th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Political LeaningEven22nd percentile — neutral, not ranked
White (%)90.2%62nd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Black (%)1.2%59th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Hispanic (%)2.8%45th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Asian (%)3.8%88th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Other / Multiracial (%)2.0%39th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Getting Around
Commute Time15 minbetter than 97% of US places
Walkability9.5/20better than 84% of US places
Airport Distance168 mibetter than 13% of US places
Lifestyle & Connectivity
Broadband Access92.2%better than 73% of US places
Amenities Nearby45.22better than 37% of US places
Park & Nature AccessGoodbetter than 53% of US places
Similar places
Frequently asked questions
- Is Cedar Falls an affordable place to live?
- Cedar Falls is relatively affordable. Its cost-of-living index is $41k, better than 94% of comparable areas.
- What is the median home value in Cedar Falls?
- The median home value in Cedar Falls is $245k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- What is the median household income in Cedar Falls?
- Median household income in Cedar Falls is $71k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- How much is rent in Cedar Falls?
- Median gross rent in Cedar Falls is $1k a month, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- Is Cedar Falls safe?
- Cedar Falls is safer than most comparable areas, with a violent crime rate of 0/100k (better than 93%). Property crime is 0/100k.
- What is the weather like in Cedar Falls?
- Cedar Falls averages 74°F in July and 19°F in January, with 36.3 in of annual precipitation and about 233 sunny days a year.
- How are the schools in Cedar Falls?
- Public-school quality in Cedar Falls is above average, scoring better than 63% of comparable areas on a composite of graduation rates, spending, and student-teacher ratio.
- How long is the commute in Cedar Falls?
- The average one-way commute in Cedar Falls is 15 min.
Other places in Black Hawk County
Places near Cedar Falls
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Data sources
- EPA Air Quality (AQI)
- EPA Smart Location Database
- EPI Family Budget Calculator
- FAA airport enplanements
- FBI Uniform Crime Reports
- FEMA National Risk Index
- MIT Election Data Lab (2020)
- NCES School Finance Survey
- NOAA Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA nClimGrid
- OpenStreetMap
- Tax Foundation + state revenue depts
- U.S. Census ACS (5-Year)
- USGS Protected Areas (PAD-US)