Waverly city, Iowa Demographics & Population 2026

Name: Waverly city, Iowa Demographics
Creator: U.S. Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

As of 2026, Waverly city, Iowa has a total population of 10,446, the 40th largest city in Iowa, with a median household income of $78,429, which is 7% higher than the state average. The poverty rate is 11.1%.

Key Takeaways

43.9% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher — top 10% in Iowa.

Waverly city Quick Facts

Population 10,446

Median Household Income $78,429

Median Home Value $215,200

Poverty Rate 11.1%

Unemployment Rate 3.3%

Median Age 32.5 years

Homeownership Rate 71.2%

Affordability Ratio 2.7x

Bachelor's Degree or Higher 43.9%

High School Graduation Rate 94.6%

Diversity Index 19/100

Population 10,446 40th of 1,018

Median Income $78,429 top 30%

Poverty Rate 11.1% 11% lower national

Median Home Value $215,200 top 20%

How Waverly city Compares

Median Household Income

Waverly city

$78,429

$73,147

National

$78,538

Median Home Value

Waverly city

$215,200

$195,900

National

$303,400

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 15.3%

$25K-$50K 14.8%

$50K-$100K 33.0%

$100K+ 36.9%

Employment

3.3% Unemployment Rate State: 3.6% | National: 5.2%

65.8% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 71.2%

Renter 28.8%

Affordability Index Very Affordable

2.7x home value to income ratio

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

20.6%

18-34

31.9%

35-54

20.2%

55-74

18.0%

75+

9.3%

Race & Ethnicity

Diversity Index

Very Low Diversity

A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.

State average: 30 | National average: 60

Education

Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)

Waverly city Rankings in Iowa

#40 Population of 1,018

#218 Median Income of 1,018

#59 Education of 1,018

#116 Home Value of 1,018

Explore Iowa Rankings

Cities by Population All cities ranked by size Richest Cities Ranked by median income Most Educated By bachelor's degree rate Most Affordable By housing affordability

Cities Similar to Waverly city

These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.

City	Population	Median Income	Home Value	Bachelor's+	Poverty
Pella city	10,624	$81,201	$259,600	47.8%	4.4%
Le Mars city	10,597	$72,381	$202,200	24.3%	8.8%
Pleasant Hill city	10,796	$86,890	$284,100	32.2%	9.9%
Carroll city	10,261	$59,323	$184,100	25.6%	10.4%
Grinnell city	9,527	$64,426	$191,700	41.1%	10.9%

Population Overview

Waverly city is a small city located in Iowa, within Bremer County. The total population is 10,446. It ranks as the 40th most populous out of 1,018 cities and towns in Iowa.

Age Demographics

The median age in Waverly city is 32.5 years. This is 16% lower than the state median of 38.6 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Waverly city is $78,429. This is 7% higher than the state median of $73,147. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is about average. The poverty rate stands at 11.1%. This is about average than the state poverty rate of 11.0%. The unemployment rate is 3.3%. This is 8% lower than the state rate of 3.6%. The median home value is $215,200. Housing costs are 10% higher than the state median of $195,900. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.7x, Waverly city is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 71.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied.

Race & Ethnicity

Waverly city has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 89.9% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 3.3%. The Hispanic or Latino population (3.3%) is well below the state average of 7.0%.

Education

43.9% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Waverly city in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 42% higher than the state rate of 30.9%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 94.6%. Notably, 16.6% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Waverly city, Iowa is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually, providing reliable estimates for communities of all sizes. Comparisons are made against Iowa state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 1,018 Census-designated places in Iowa. For official data, visit data.census.gov.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Waverly city, Iowa?

Waverly city, Iowa has a population of 10,446 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What is the median household income in Waverly city, IA?

The median household income in Waverly city is $78,429, which is about average the national median of $78,538.

What is the poverty rate in Waverly city, IA?

The poverty rate in Waverly city is 11.1%. This means approximately 1,003 residents live below the federal poverty line.

What is the racial makeup of Waverly city, Iowa?

Waverly city's population is 89.9% White, 2.3% Black, 3.3% Hispanic/Latino, and 1.7% Asian.

What is the median home value in Waverly city, IA?

The median home value in Waverly city is $215,200. The home-value-to-income ratio is 2.7x.

How educated is Waverly city, Iowa?

43.9% of adults (25+) in Waverly city hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 16.6% hold a graduate or professional degree.