City Comparison
Dubuque vs Waterloo
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Dubuque scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Dubuque
Waterloo
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Dubuque is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
1% lower than in Waterloo.
| Metric | Dubuque | 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 | 89 | 85 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Dubuque offers similar 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 Dubuque is estimated at
$48,000 vs $48,000 in Waterloo.
| Metric | Dubuque | Waterloo |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $58,000 | $58,000 |
| Salary Needed | $48,000 | $48,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 65,169 idx | 68,235 idx |
| Household Income | $65,400 | $56,500 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 0.3°F of each other.
Winter severity differs too — Waterloo sees 0.6 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Dubuque | Waterloo |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 50.40°F | 50.10°F |
| Summer High | 81.40°F | 80.70°F |
| Winter Low | 14.30°F | 13.10°F |
| Rainfall | 32.70 in | 38.00 in |
| Snowfall | 21.70 in | 22.30 in |
| Sunny Days | 261 | 260 |
| Humidity | 68.00% | 68.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Both cities have comparable commute times, within 0 minutes of each other.
Dubuque scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Dubuque leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Dubuque | Waterloo |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 18 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
Waterloo is the larger city
— approximately 0.9x the population of Dubuque.
From a growth perspective, Dubuque is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Dubuque has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Dubuque | Waterloo |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 59,384 | 67,325 |
| Pop. Growth | 0.50% | 0.30% |
| Median Age | 39.2 | 36.5 |
| Unemployment | 3.20% | 3.80% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Dubuque
Advantages
Median home prices in Dubuque remain significantly more affordable than the national average per the National Association of Realtors.
Exceptional outdoor recreation access, highlighted by the 1,439-acre Mines of Spain State Recreation Area.
Robust regional healthcare sector anchored by MercyOne Dubuque and UnityPoint Health - Finley Hospital.
Consistently lower violent and property crime rates compared to national benchmarks per FBI crime data.
Vibrant historic downtown and Port of Dubuque district offering diverse dining, arts, and cultural attractions.
Drawbacks
Cold and snowy winter conditions can create challenging commuting and outdoor circumstances.
Limited commercial flight options directly out of Dubuque Regional Airport require travel to larger hubs like Chicago or Cedar Rapids.
Public transit options outside of core fixed bus routes are somewhat limited for suburban commuters.
Wages in certain sectors may lag behind fast-growing coastal metropolitan markets.
Limited racial and ethnic diversity compared to major U.S. metropolitan areas.
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.
Dubuque
#112Iowa, USA
66.9 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$950
Avg Salary
$58,000
Cost Index
89
Commute
18 min
Transit Score
42.0/100
Walkability
48.0/100
Sunny Days
261/yr
Avg Temp
50.40°F
Pop. Growth
0.50%
Unemployment
3.20%
Livability
76
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
Calculate Your Cost Impact
Estimate the salary you'd need when moving between Dubuque and Waterloo.
Open Cost Calculator