City Comparison
Sioux City vs Waterloo
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Sioux City scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Sioux City
Waterloo
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Sioux City is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
1% lower than in Waterloo.
| Metric | Sioux City | Waterloo | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $950 | $950 | 0% |
| Groceries | $380 | $380 | 0% |
| Utilities | $175 | $175 | 0% |
| Transport | $110 | $110 | 0% |
| Healthcare | $220 | $230 | -4% |
| Monthly Total | $1,835 | $1,845 | -1% |
| Cost Index | 88 | 85 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Waterloo offers 3% lower average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Waterloo delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Sioux City is estimated at
$45,000 vs $48,000 in Waterloo.
| Metric | Sioux City | Waterloo |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $56,000 | $58,000 |
| Salary Needed | $45,000 | $48,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 63,636 idx | 68,235 idx |
| Household Income | $62,500 | $56,500 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 1.3°F of each other.
For sunshine, Sioux City comes out ahead with 20 more sunny days per year,
which can meaningfully impact mood and outdoor lifestyle.
Winter severity differs too — Waterloo sees 0.4 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Sioux City | Waterloo |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 51.40°F | 50.10°F |
| Summer High | 83.00°F | 80.70°F |
| Winter Low | 13.80°F | 13.10°F |
| Rainfall | 31.50 in | 38.00 in |
| Snowfall | 21.90 in | 22.30 in |
| Sunny Days | 280 | 260 |
| Humidity | 68.00% | 68.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Both cities have comparable commute times, within 1 minutes of each other.
Sioux City scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Sioux City leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Sioux City | Waterloo |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 17 min | 18 min |
| Transit Score | 42.0/100 | 40.0/100 |
| Walkability | 48.0/100 | 45.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 35.00 | 30.00 |
| Car Dependency | High | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Sioux City is the larger city
— approximately 1.3x the population of Waterloo.
From a growth perspective, Sioux City is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Sioux City has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Sioux City | Waterloo |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 85,797 | 67,325 |
| Pop. Growth | 0.50% | 0.30% |
| Median Age | 35.5 | 36.5 |
| Unemployment | 3.20% | 3.80% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Sioux City
Advantages
Median home prices in Sioux City are significantly lower than the national average per the U.S. Census Bureau.
Average commute times are under 18 minutes, well below the U.S. national average per BLS data.
A thriving healthcare sector anchored by MercyOne and UnityPoint Health provides robust medical services.
Abundant outdoor recreation including over 50 public parks and extensive Missouri River trail systems.
Strong local higher education institutions like Morningside University and Briar Cliff University.
Drawbacks
Winter temperatures can be harsh, with average winter lows dropping to 13.8°F per Open-Meteo climate data.
Limited public transit options require high car dependency for daily commuting and errands.
Average household incomes trail behind top-tier national metropolitan benchmarks.
Limited direct commercial air travel options at Sioux Gateway Airport necessitate driving to larger hubs like Omaha.
Pockets of the urban core face ongoing economic revitalization and property crime challenges.
Waterloo
Advantages
Median home prices are significantly lower than the national average per US Census and local real estate data
Average commute times are short, reducing daily travel stress
Abundant outdoor recreation options including the Cedar Valley Nature Trail
Strong local healthcare presence with MercyOne and UnityPoint Health facilities
Rich cultural amenities such as the Grout Museum District and Lost Island Waterpark
Drawbacks
Cold and snowy winter conditions can be challenging for residents
Public transit options are limited compared to major metropolitan areas
Property taxes in Black Hawk County can be relatively high
Certain urban core neighborhoods experience higher property crime rates
Job market heavily relies on a few major industrial employers
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Sioux City
#173Iowa, USA
64.5 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$950
Avg Salary
$56,000
Cost Index
88
Commute
17 min
Transit Score
42.0/100
Walkability
48.0/100
Sunny Days
280/yr
Avg Temp
51.40°F
Pop. Growth
0.50%
Unemployment
3.20%
Livability
75
Business
70
Waterloo
#366Iowa, USA
59.6 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$950
Avg Salary
$58,000
Cost Index
85
Commute
18 min
Transit Score
40.0/100
Walkability
45.0/100
Sunny Days
260/yr
Avg Temp
50.10°F
Pop. Growth
0.30%
Unemployment
3.80%
Livability
73
Business
67
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