Waterloo-Cedar Falls and Topeka receive effectively the same standardized Area Score. Which fits you better depends on which dimensions you weight — the differences below are where they actually diverge.
Signals
Measured values
| Metric | Waterloo-Cedar Falls | Topeka | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 168,637 | 232,468 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $70,811 | $69,888 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $38,690 | $37,837 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 112/sq mi | 72/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $194,800 | $183,200 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $977 | $971 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 69.5% | 70.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.2% | 4.1% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -3.2% | -2.4% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 31.0% | 30.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 13.2% | 11.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 542 | 569 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 3.2 | 2.4 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 45.3% | -12.1% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 85°F | 90°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 11°F | 20°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 36.3" | 36.5" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 4 mi | 10 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 18.5 min | 22.3 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 36.8 | 40.1 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Waterloo-Cedar Falls
Elevated or high exposure: drought, tornado, cold wave.
Topeka
No hazard reaches elevated exposure.
Your best match
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Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA Metro Area · Topeka, KS Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology