Cedar Falls, Iowa Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Cedar Falls, Iowa had a total population of 40,888, the 14th largest city in Iowa, with a median household income of $76,987, which is 3% higher than the state average. The poverty rate is 15.7%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Key Takeaways
- 50.4% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher — top 10% in Iowa.
Cedar Falls Quick Facts
How Cedar Falls Changed
Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.
| Metric | 2019–2023 | 2020–2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 40,662 | 40,888 | +0.6% |
| Median household income | $74,165 | $76,987 | +3.8% |
| Median home value | $252,500 | $263,600 | +4.4% |
How Cedar Falls Compares
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Diversity Index
A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.
State average: 31 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Cedar Falls Rankings in Iowa
Explore Iowa Rankings
Other Cities in Black Hawk County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waterloo | 67,008 | $57,480 | 16.6% | $152,600 |
| Evansdale | 4,518 | $60,397 | 24.0% | $150,300 |
| Hudson | 2,699 | $120,481 | 4.0% | $242,700 |
| Jesup | 2,561 | $89,408 | 7.0% | $190,200 |
| La Porte City | 2,071 | $70,500 | 10.8% | $163,200 |
| Elk Run Heights | 964 | $76,500 | 4.0% | $171,200 |
| Janesville | 917 | $103,542 | 5.5% | $221,700 |
| Raymond | 899 | $76,711 | 4.3% | $222,600 |
| Dunkerton | 821 | $86,413 | 7.0% | $189,700 |
| Gilbertville | 761 | $79,583 | 3.1% | $197,400 |
Cities Similar to Cedar Falls
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marion | 41,896 | $86,743 | $241,700 | 38.1% | 8.2% |
| Bettendorf | 39,647 | $100,495 | $306,500 | 50.7% | 6.7% |
| Urbandale | 46,595 | $112,795 | $335,500 | 51.2% | 6.8% |
| Marshalltown | 27,626 | $69,068 | $127,700 | 20.9% | 14.3% |
| Dubuque | 59,174 | $65,845 | $204,800 | 34.0% | 12.7% |
Population Overview
Cedar Falls is a mid-sized community located in Iowa, within Black Hawk County. The total population is 40,888. It ranks as the 14th most populous out of 1,017 Census-designated places in Iowa.
Age Demographics
The median age in Cedar Falls is 29.3 years. This is 24% lower than the state median of 38.6 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Cedar Falls is $76,987. This is 3% higher than the state median of $75,059. It is also 5% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 15.7%. This is 42% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.1%. The unemployment rate is 3.9%. This is 9% higher than the state rate of 3.6%. The median home value is $263,600. Housing costs are 27% higher than the state median of $208,000. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.4x. 64.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 11% lower than the state average of 71.7%.
Race & Ethnicity
Cedar Falls has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 90.6% of all residents. Asian residents account for 3.2%. The Black or African American population (1.4%) is well below the state average of 3.8%. The Hispanic or Latino population (2.2%) is well below the state average of 7.3%.
Education
50.4% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Cedar Falls in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 60% higher than the state rate of 31.4%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 97.8%. Notably, 21.5% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Cedar Falls, Iowa is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against Iowa state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 1,017 Census-designated places in Iowa. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Cedar Falls, Iowa?
Cedar Falls, Iowa has a population of 40,888 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Cedar Falls, IA?
The median household income in Cedar Falls is $76,987, which is 5% lower than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Cedar Falls, IA?
The poverty rate in Cedar Falls is 15.7%. This means approximately 5,855 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Cedar Falls, Iowa?
Cedar Falls's population is 90.6% White, 1.4% Black, 2.2% Hispanic/Latino, and 3.2% Asian.
What is the median home value in Cedar Falls, IA?
The median home value in Cedar Falls is $263,600. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.4x.
How educated is Cedar Falls, Iowa?
50.4% of adults (25+) in Cedar Falls hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 21.5% hold a graduate or professional degree.