Metro area index
Home appreciation in the Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA metro area
FHFA HPI® data shows the Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA metro area's all-transactions index changed +2.6% over the year to Q2 2026, versus +3.2% for Iowa and +3.0% for the U.S. That ranks 251st of 410 metro areas and divisions FHFA tracks.
- 1-year change
- +2.6%
- 5-year change
- +37.0%
- Since Q1 1995
- +244%
- Metro rank (1 year)
- 251st
U.S. +3.0%
U.S. +41.3%
U.S. +292%
of 410
Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA vs Iowa and the U.S.
FHFA HPI® all-transactions index, rebased so Q1 1995 = 100, through Q2 2026
- Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA: 343.5
- Iowa: 312.1
- United States: 391.6
Appreciation by time window
| Window | Metro | IA | U.S. | Gap vs IA | Gap vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 year | +2.6% | +3.2% | +3.0% | −0.6 pts | −0.4 pts |
| 3 years | +12.2% | +13.1% | +12.9% | −1.0 pts | −0.7 pts |
| 5 years | +37.0% | +37.4% | +41.3% | −0.4 pts | −4.3 pts |
| 10 years | +61.2% | +70.6% | +93.3% | −9.4 pts | −32.1 pts |
| Since Q1 1995 | +244% | +212% | +292% | +31.5 pts | −48.0 pts |
3-digit ZIP regions in the Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA area
Regions with at least 10% of their 2010 population inside the metro, largest overlap first. A 3-digit ZIP region can extend beyond the metro boundary.
| 3-digit ZIP region | State | 1 year | 5 years | Since Q1 1995 | Population in metro |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 507 · Waterloo, IA area | IA | +1.9% | +35.1% | +242% | 100% |
| 506 · Cedar Falls, IA area | IA | +4.8% | +39.4% | +250% | 52% |
Boom, bust, and recovery in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA area
Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA area's index peaked in Q2 2009, fell 1.7% to its low in Q1 2010, and regained its peak in Q3 2010, about 1.2 years after the top. Today it sits +73.0% versus that 2000s peak. How every state and ZIP region fared
| Area | 2000s peak | Low point | Peak to low | Back to peak | Today vs peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Metro | Q2 2009 | Q1 2010 | -1.7% | Q3 2010 (1.2 yrs) | +73.0% |
| IA | Q1 2009 | Q2 2011 | -2.5% | Q4 2012 (3.8 yrs) | +86.4% |
| U.S. | Q1 2007 | Q2 2012 | -19.0% | Q4 2016 (9.8 yrs) | +89.3% |
Appreciation after inflation
Adjusting for consumer price inflation, Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA area's index has changed +55.1% in real terms since Q1 1995. Home prices vs inflation
| Window | Inflation (CPI-U) | Metro after inflation | IA after inflation | U.S. after inflation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 year | +3.9% | -1.2% | -0.6% | -0.8% |
| 3 years | +9.8% | +2.1% | +3.0% | +2.8% |
| 5 years | +24.0% | +10.5% | +10.8% | +13.9% |
| 10 years | +39.1% | +15.9% | +22.7% | +39.0% |
| Since Q1 1995 | +121% | +55.1% | +40.9% | +76.8% |
If you bought in the Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA area in…
An example $300,000 purchase grown at the metro index rate to Q2 2026.
| Bought in | Index change | $300,000 then, at the metro rate |
|---|---|---|
| Q2 1995 | +236% | $1,009,462 |
| Q2 2000 | +143% | $729,652 |
| Q2 2005 | +86.3% | $558,751 |
| Q2 2010 | +74.7% | $523,978 |
| Q2 2015 | +59.2% | $477,575 |
| Q2 2020 | +46.8% | $440,373 |
| Q2 2021 | +37.0% | $411,089 |
| Q2 2023 | +12.2% | $336,476 |
| Q2 2025 | +2.6% | $307,749 |
Frequently asked questions
- How much have home prices risen in the Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA area?
- FHFA HPI® data for the Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA metro area shows changes of +2.6% over one year, +37.0% over five years, and +61.2% over ten years to Q2 2026, and +244% since Q1 1995.
- Is the Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA area beating the national average?
- Over the past year the metro's index moved −0.4 pts versus the U.S.; over five years the gap is −4.3 pts.
- What area does this metro index cover?
- FHFA computes metro indexes using the counties in each OMB-defined metropolitan statistical area. The index covers the whole area, so individual neighborhoods and homes can differ from it.