Waterloo

In Alabar Hills, modest-sized homes fly off the market. Just 3 miles from downtown Waterloo and 5 miles from downtown Cedar Falls, this densely suburban neighborhood is within walking or biking distance of schools, parks, local businesses and diverse houses of worship. Family entertainment and citywide festivals are also easily accessible. "It's very centrally located, close to highways but not right on the highway," says Gerald Sorensen, a lifelong resident and Realtor with RE/Max Home Group. He says there is "definitely more happening" in Alabar Hills than when he was growing up, evidenced by the nearby shopping and dining opportunities surrounding the neighborhood today. The wide, tree-flanked streets of Alabar Hills are lined with neatly arranged ranch-style homes, most dating back to the 1950s. These two- and three-bedroom builds often have Minimal Traditional stylings with simple, vinyl exteriors, though buyers may also find homes clad in brick or light-colored stone. Sidewalks are lacking here, as trimmed lawns extend to the street. Most people drive, and homes have deep driveways large enough for multiple cars, trailers or a recreational vehicle. Properties here typically range between $100,000 and $200,000 and are snatched off the market after an average of 3 days. "I've seen more younger people moving in because of the affordability," Sorensen says. "It's transitioning." Families in Alabar Hills can walk young children to school at Fred Becker Elementary, which has a C-rating from Niche. Students continue to C-minus-rated Central Middle, also within a mile of all of the neighborhood's homes. Waterloo West High School has a B-minus and offers four career-focused academies in subjects including health and engineering. Community members head to Memorial Stadium next to Alabar Hills to watch both West and East High Schools play football. University Avenue hosts many local businesses, such as Calico and Company, a home goods store. The avenue is also home to several diners — Gravy's Diner, Mike's Diner and Chasers Pub, a neighborhood bar with pool tables, darts and a crew of regulars. Alabar Hills residents can also head 3 miles up the road to College Square Mall, home to Kohl's and other retailers, chain restaurants such as Texas Roadhouse and a Hy-Vee Grocery Store. Nearby entertainment options include Get Air Trampoline Park and the recently remodeled Maple Lanes Bowling Center, where families play alongside professionals, and anyone can join seasonal leagues operating every night of the week. Alabar Hills is within 1.5 miles of several parks, including Valley View Park, Galloway Park and Miriams Park next door. Each park has a playground and open green space. Black Hawk Creek runs southwest of the neighborhood, with fishing accessible at Hope Martin Memorial Park. Locals can also take advantage of the nearby Black Hawk County YMCA, which offers childcare, youth sports, group exercise classes and fitness equipment. Alabar Hills's diverse houses of worship exemplify Waterloo's status as an increasingly diverse city. The neighborhood is near Miracle Central Church of God in Christ, Apostolic Church of the Cedar Valley and more institutions, including Catholic, Baptist and Lutheran churches. Alabar Hills is also home to the Masjid Al-Noor Islamic Community Center, which hosts twice-monthly community potlucks and open houses for people of all faiths. Founded in 1984, the center welcomed many Bosnian refugees in the late 1990s and has continued to grow as more immigrants have made a home in the Cedar Valley. The neighborhood sits just underneath University Avenue, a major throughway connecting residents with downtown Waterloo's waterfront restaurants, parks and museums. Though most people here drive, Met Transit bus stops cluster along University Avenue. The University of Northern Iowa, a major employer in the area, is less than 5 miles west, while the city of Cedar Rapids is about an hour's drive. Residents here are well-positioned to enjoy year-round festivities in Waterloo and Cedar Falls. Annual events include a Veterans Memorial Day Parade, Cedar Valley Pridefest and Iowa Irish Fest, the state's largest celebration of Celtic culture, featuring food, live music and sporting events such as sheep herding and Gaelic football.

Aptly named, Audubon is a fast-growing Waterloo community near a vast bird sanctuary. “It’s a very diverse neighborhood,” says Justin Reuter, a Realtor with Oakridge Real Estate who represents the neighborhood’s primary developer. “You’ve got rightsizers and first-time buyers and families as well.” Spacious new construction is attracting waves of homebuyers, though surrounding farmland and proximity to parks and nature give the neighborhood a more secluded feel. Still, schools, shopping necessities and major employers are all within a few miles, and neighboring highways make trips across town a breeze. Historic downtown Waterloo is a 5-mile drive, while commutes to Cedar Rapids can take less than an hour. Brand-new builds are popping up here, joining an eclectic community of homes built between the 1960s and the 2010s. Split-levels and ranch-style homes are common, while some cul-de-sacs comprise New Traditional and custom contemporary architecture. Though the neighborhood is densely suburban, homes typically sit on quarter-acre lots large enough for pools and backyard entertainment decks overlooking ample green space for kids and pets to play. Prices here range between $255,000 and $600,000, depending on age and number of bedrooms. Though new construction is pricier, the city incentivizes those willing to invest in growth. “Waterloo offers a 3-year, 100% tax abatement on new dwellings, so a lot of families are taking advantage of that on new homes,” Reuter says. The dense forest of Robinson Bird Sanctuary is just 3 miles from Audubon, where spring brings an eruption of vibrant Bluebells, drawing nature lovers from across the region. The nature preserve offers a tranquil respite, with creekside trails and spots to launch kayaks and other small watercraft. Within the neighborhood, Prairie Grove Park has sheltered picnic tables, a baseball field and two playgrounds for different age levels, and the mixed-use Shaulis Road Trail runs along its southern border. Locals can also become members of nearby Sunnyside Golf and Country Club, which has a pool, a fitness center and tennis and pickleball courts, in addition to an 18-hole course. Families can drive 4 miles to reach Orange Elementary, which has a C-plus from Niche. Students continue on to Hoover Middle, then Waterloo West High, which both receive a B-minus. Teens at West High can enroll in one of four career-focused academies in subjects such as engineering and human services. Local private options include Waterloo Christian School 2 miles away. Niche gives the kindergarten through 12th grade school an A-minus, and ranks it the No. 1 high school in Black Hawk County. Big box stores like Lowe’s, Sam’s Club and Fareway Meat and Grocery line San Marnan Drive 3 miles from the neighborhood. The long stretch of businesses eventually leads to a Hy-Vee, Walmart and Crossroads Mall. Though quieter than it once was, the mall still has a movie theatre, restaurants and major retailers nearby such as Best Buy and Dick’s Sporting Goods. Audubon residents can easily drive to some of Waterloo’s most beloved restaurants, including Highway 63 Diner, a longtime local favorite with an extensive menu and down-to-earth atmosphere. Between May and October, the Grout Museum District and Black Hawk County Astronomy Club host monthly Star Parties at Prairie Grove Park. Telescopes are provided for locals interested in gazing at the night sky and learning more from local astronomy enthusiasts. U.S. Routes 20 and 63 intersect just outside the neighborhood, connecting residents to the rest of the Cedar Valley, as well as interstates heading to Cedar Rapids, Iowa City or Des Moines. Audubon’s proximity to area farms makes for easy, family-friendly excursions. Locals can feed a calf, churn butter and even pet a kangaroo on a tour of Hansen’s Dairy Farm, an Iowa Heritage Farm owned by the same family for 150 years. Many visitors head home with cheese curds and pints of ice cream made on site.

Waterloo’s Cedar River neighborhood sits on the banks of its namesake water source, originally platted as summer cottages in the 1890s. A walk through the neighborhood offers reminders of this history — Victorian-style homes still sit atop trimmed green lawns — though light industry, social services and local businesses are now a part of the landscape. Homes here are primed for restoration and renovation, conveniently located a half mile from eastside parks and dining in downtown Waterloo. The urban core has seen more than $130 million of private investment in the past 10 years, reflected in the area’s housing trends. “As a whole, people are going back to the core, all across the country; That’s also happened around here quite a bit,” says Jared Hottle, a Realtor with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices who has lived in Waterloo most of his life. Downtown’s 4th Street is lined with popular local restaurants and bars, including the Screaming Eagle, a biker-themed bar and grill with television screens and a stage for live music. For brunch, lines form outside of Morg’s, a retro diner, and Newton’s Paradise Cafe, known for homemade sweet potato chips. Within Cedar River, La Michoacana is a casual stop for Mexican staples that operates a market with a meat counter next door. Access to fresh groceries has been historically limited, though community members in nearby Walnut recently opened All-In Grocers, which not only operates a store, but hosts a community center offering after-school programs and reentry assistance to formerly incarcerated locals. It is Waterloo’s first new grocery store in 50 years. The neighborhood has Victorians, American Foursquares and Craftsman bungalows dating back to the turn of the 20th century. Hottle says most people in the area are renters, often young professionals looking for walkability to downtown amenities. As a result, most of his clients in Cedar River are investors. “People are always looking for opportunity,” Hottle says. “There’s lots of history here — downtown Waterloo is on the National Register of Historic Places — and there’s historic rehab happening on those properties.” Homes here tend to require a bit of investment and elbow grease before move in, though a few newer builds popped up in the 2010s. Historic homes typically sell between $40,000 and $90,000, while newer construction and multi-family properties can range between $100 and $200,000. Though close to downtown, the area is predominantly residential, with narrow sidewalks cutting through modest, but grassy front lawns. Housing insecurity is a pressing concern throughout downtown Waterloo, an issue that several Cedar River organizations strive to alleviate. Cedar Valley Hospitality House offers food, clothing and a place to spend the day, while Catholic Worker provides overnight shelter and hot meals. Nearby Center of Attention organizes transitional housing for women and hosts family-friendly events, including a Summer Kick Off with live music and food, a bounce house and free haircuts for kids. Parkland is limited in Cedar River, though nearby Lafayette Park has a playground, basketball and tennis courts, a paved walking and cycling path and open green space for many kinds of play. Annual events often take place at Lincoln Park, a heavily shaded meeting place a half mile from most homes. Along the river’s edge, residents can hop on the Cedar Valley Lakes Trail, a 16-mile concrete and asphalt trail running through downtown Waterloo and up to Black Hawk Park in Cedar Falls. The path offers varied views of Waterloo’s urban core, the Cedar River, and the lakes of George Wyth State Park. Conveniently, the trail is outfitted with self-service bicycle repair stations along the way. Downtown Waterloo has a full calendar of year-round events, including My Waterloo Days, started more than 40 years ago. This celebration of the city includes a parade of more than 100 entrants and a weekend of live music, street fairs and kids’ activities at Lincoln Park. Kids attend Lowell Elementary, then Central Middle, which both have a C-minus from Niche. Teens cross the river to attend West High, despite East High’s proximity. The high school has a B-minus from Niche and offers career academies in engineering, health services and the arts. Within the neighborhood, the University of Northern Iowa’s Center for Urban Education offers summer classes, tutoring and college preparatory sessions for local youth, as well as continuing education classes for adults. The center was founded in 1968 to expand educational opportunities for Black, low-income residents in downtown Waterloo. Sidewalks connect Cedar River’s homes to downtown destinations a half mile away. The 6th Street bridge offers pedestrian access to the Phelps Youth Pavilion, Waterloo Public Library and other attractions and restaurants across the river. The Metropolitan Transit Authority operates bus routes 4, 5L and 5W11 within the neighborhood.

Diverse people, architecture and houses of worship define Church Row, a historic but ever-changing community close to downtown Waterloo and the John Deere facility. As the name suggests, the neighborhood has a dense cluster of faith organizations formed in the 19th and early 20th centuries, including Sacred Heart Catholic Church, where Martin Luther King Jr. once visited, St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church and First Congregational Church. The headquarters of the Islamic Foundation of Iowa also operate within the neighborhood, a reflection of the area’s evolving demographics. Between 2010 and 2018, Church Row’s Asian population grew from less than 2% to nearly 20%, according to data from the Church Row Neighborhood Plan, a visioning project from the University of Iowa. The plan outlines many of Church Row’s challenges, including a deteriorating stock of historic homes, though it recognizes the community has a strong contingent of people and organizations committed to a path forward. “It is a very attractive neighborhood for families, for renters and buyers,” says Travis Kraus, who led the Church Row Neighborhood Plan. He serves as an associate professor and the director of the Iowa Initiative for Sustainable Communities at the University of Iowa. “I think it’s a great neighborhood for people who value diversity.” In Church Row, “some houses are just huge,” says Rick Bauer, a lifelong Waterloo resident and broker and owner of Re/Max Home Group. “When you have a town that’s as old as Waterloo, the wealthy doctors, attorneys, bankers lived near downtown where they could ride their horse or walk there.” Buyers here will find grand Victorian homes, brick rowhouses and American Foursquares from the turn of the 20th century in varying states of repair. “Close to downtown has turned into a lot of rentals, though there’s been some redevelopment of properties,” Bauer says. Prices here can start around $50,000 for a townhouse or two-bedroom fixer-upper, while renovated three-bedroom builds rarely exceed $140,000. Housing insecurity is an issue here, with 54% of residents paying more than one-third of their income on rent, according to data from the Church Row Neighborhood Plan. “You can see a significant shift from predominantly owner-occupied to renters,” Kraus says. “That changes the character of the neighborhood and also the types of resources available to that neighborhood.” There are many reasons for this shift: many white families moved to suburban enclaves, and a 1980s farm crisis affecting the John Deere facility spurred a further exodus. Investors responded by splitting historic homes into multifamily rental units. Today, Church Row community members and housing advocates are creating opportunities for homeownership and striving to enhance livability. “Habitat for Humanity has done a terrific job in some of our more challenged areas,” Bauer says. “And there is a good community effort to work on these Habitat houses and help people become homeowners.” He says local faith groups and businesses often volunteer to build houses for lower-income families in the area. As of spring 2024, Iowa Heartland Habitat for Humanity had built or rehabilitated more than 60 homes in the Church Row and Walnut neighborhoods. Church Row’s Washington Park has been a tranquil green space since the mid-1800s. The park offers shaded spots to read or picnic in the grass, as well as a Japanese-style gazebo. Elks Memorial Park has the closest playground, as well as a basketball court. Neighborhood kids and lifelong learners enjoy proximity to several historic and educational sites, part of the Grout Museum District. The Bluedorn Science Imaginarium has hands-on science exhibits meant for young children, the Sullivan Brothers Iowa Veterans Museum tells military history through local perspectives and the adjoining Grout Museum of History and Science has a popular planetarium show. Residents here are a couple miles from Hy-Vee, the closest big-box grocery store, though there are a handful of smaller, locally-owned markets within and near the neighborhood. Home cooks can find pan-Asian and some African and Caribbean goods at Hornbill Asian Market or head across U.S. Route 218 for Mexican specialties at La Placita, a grocer and restaurant. Neighborhood eateries include Pick Up N Go, known for generous portions of soul food, El Barco Mexican Seafood Bar and Grill, also locally owned. Down the street, Lighthouse Lounge is a beloved cash-only bar, popular with locals for its pizza and neighborly atmosphere. Restaurants and bars are also nearby in downtown Waterloo, including The Brown Bottle, a rustic Italian restaurant, and Singlespeed Brewing, housed in the city’s former Wonder Bread factory. Large neon signs reading “Hostess Cake” and “Home of Wonder Bread” still adorn the building. U.S. Routes 63 and 218 separate homes from the river, a convenience for some journeys, but a hinderance for others. “There were planning-type decisions that were made in the past that contributed to the way the neighborhood grew and evolved and developed,” Kraus says. “The four-lane highway became a barrier to people in the neighborhood.” Church Row is no longer as walkable as it once was, and major employers like John Deere are harder to reach. These conditions have created a car-reliant neighborhood, though bus lines 1 and 8 do stop near many homes. Between May and October, residents can spend Saturday mornings perusing craft booths and picking out fresh produce at the Waterloo Urban Farmers Market. Downtown events often occur at Lincoln Park just across the river, including My Waterloo Days, started more than 40 years ago. The annual celebration of the city features a weekend of live music, food vendors, kids activities and a parade. Students here begin at Irving Elementary within the neighborhood, rated a C-minus from Niche. Central Middle also has a C-minus, while West High gets a B-minus. Teens can participate in one of several career pathway programs, including arts and business, engineering and health. University of Northern Iowa is a 10-mile drive from Church Row.

Tucked in the Cedar Valley, Cityview is a tiny neighborhood of east Waterloo. Price points appeal to first-time home buyers, empty-nesters and investors. It's 2 miles from downtown Waterloo. "It has a lot to offer in terms of bigger city amenities with a small-town feel and ultra-low cost of living. It's very, very affordable," Tara Thomas says of Waterloo. Thomas is the communications director for the city of Waterloo. "It's very family-friendly, and everything is less than a 10-minute drive. We have some challenges with the weather, and we have some airport limitations being in a more rural area, but when it comes to the quality of life...I've had a great experience raising my children here for all the low-stress-living elements," Thomas says. Homes here are half the size of the average U.S. home, with a median size under 1,000 square feet. Styles include Cape Cods and bungalows. Although homes don't come on the market often, they sell in four days on average, compared to 43 days, the U.S. average. Prices range from $40,000 to $100,000. The Waterloo Community School District has the state's only all-district International Baccalaureate (IB) program. Neighborhood high schoolers can apply to the IB diploma program at Waterloo East High School. East High School earns a C-plus from Niche. Youngsters can attend Highland Elementary School, which receives a C grade from Niche before moving on to C-minus-rated George Washington Carver Academy. Cityview is near several impressive parks. Springview Park features basketball courts, tennis courts, playground equipment and picnic shelters on 2 acres of green space. On the other side of Newell Street, the tiny City View Heights Park is now an open prairie area next to the fire department training center where the city has planted pollinators, Waterloo Leisure Services director Paul Huting says. Around 3 miles further north is the massive Gates Park. This 235-acre Gates Park is undergoing a major revamp. A new splash pad and inclusion park are almost ready, and construction is underway to replace the pool, among other improvements, Waterloo's Director of Leisure Services Paul Huting says. "It really is coming along," he says.  Right below Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, Highland Park features a playground, an open play area, playground diamonds and picnic shelters. Furgerson-Fields Park is a 4-acre park at the southwest corner of Cityview that includes a playground and open play area, picnic shelters and basketball courts. While there's a Dollar General in the neighborhood, the closest grocery stores are 2 miles away: All In Grocers on Logan Avenue, Ray's Supermarket and Cork's Grocery off Dubuque Road. Steps away, La Michoacana serves authentic Mexican food. Less than a mile away, the Half Pint Saloon serves western-themed food, such as thick home-fried potatoes called wagon wheels and wrangler cheese fries, which pair nicely with frosty pints. Commuters can take U.S. Routes 218 and 63 to travel north and south. These highways are 4 miles away on the other side of the Cedar River. Both highways connect to U.S. Route 20, which turns into Interstate 380 for east and west travel. Although most people get around by car, public transportation is available through the city's MET bus system, which has stops nearby on major roads like Newell Street and Idaho Street. Waterloo residents celebrate their city every summer at Waterloo Days, a weekend festival in Lincoln Park, 2 miles away. The early June festivities include a parade, live music, food booths and children's activities.

Life in Waterloo’s Common Grounds is all in the name. “It’s a friendly neighborhood,” says Ken Draine, Realtor with Skogman Realty who has worked extensively here. “It has a mixed culture and it’s growing.” This is a place where community is fought for and celebrated. Many locals are highly active in the area’s diverse houses of worship and nearby nonprofits, and community events are well-attended. The neighborhood offers many practicalities, too, including relatively affordable homes and access to parks. People here enjoy quick commutes to manufacturers and other employers, as well as downtown’s growing restaurant and entertainment scene. Within the neighborhood, family-owned D & K Hickory House boasts the best ribs in Waterloo. Reservations fill up quickly at this longtime establishment, suggesting that many locals agree. Neighborhood newcomers can join the regulars at Park Road Inn, which makes its own claim to fame as the oldest bar in Waterloo. For nights in, Tortas y Tacos DelValle is popular for takeout. Downtown restaurants such as the beloved Morg’s diner and the lively Screaming Eagle bar and venue are only a mile from many homes. All-In Grocers — the closest grocery option — opened in 2023, filling a hole in the area’s access to fresh ingredients. The store is locally owned, and has an attached community center offering after school programming and assistance for people adjusting to life after incarceration. Location is a primary draw here, according to Draine. U.S. Route 63 borders the neighborhood, giving residents a straight shot to the downtown corridor a mile away and local manufacturers such as John Deere. “It might take you 7 or 8 minutes to get to most of the major job centers,” he says. Commuters can also hop on bus line 3, which stops along Route 63. Community members gather to relax and recreate at Sullivan Memorial Park, which has a baseball diamond, a playground, shaded picnic tables and ample green space for kids to burn off steam. Scenic river views are also nearby at Joe Staub Memorial Field, which connects to Riverside Skate Park and the mixed-use Cedar Valley Lakes Trail. Golf enthusiasts enjoy proximity to two 18-hole courses which offer day-rates and season passes: Gates Park Golf Course and Red Carpet Golf Course. Sullivan Memorial Park hosts Waterloo’s annual Juneteenth celebration, a local tradition for nearly 30 years. In 2024, the event featured a march from Ferguson Field to the park, where participants were greeted with food vendors, live performances, kids’ activities and a proclamation from Mayor Quentin Hart. The region’s Boys and Girls Club also hosts an annual Back to School Bash at the park, celebrating the return to school with family-friendly entertainment and community giveaways. Common Grounds is densely residential. Homes often sit close together, and neighbors get to know each other both out of desire and necessity. Kids can use narrow, grass-flanked sidewalks to reach friends’ homes down the block or on the other end of the neighborhood. The architectural landscape here includes many two-bedroom bungalows and Foursquare homes built between 1900 and 1950. Prices typically range between $50,000 and $120,000, below the Waterloo median price. “It’s a lot of families and first-time homebuyers,” Draine says. “It’s pretty diverse.” The neighborhood attracts investors, too, as many homes are due for renovations and upgrades. Waterloo has a history of flooding, and parts of Common Grounds are at an elevated risk, especially homes closer to Cedar River. The last major flood was in 2008, though the city has since invested $17 million in a stormwater flood pump station. Kids here start at Lincoln Elementary, which has a C-minus from Niche, or Becker Elementary, which gets a C. Becker hosts family events throughout the school year, including read-ins, a Halloween Trunk or Treat and Becker Bash, a spring celebration with food vendors, games and face painting. These students continue on to Central Middle, and Lincoln kids head to George Washington Carver Academy. Both have a C-minus. Students are again split between B-minus-rated West High and C-plus-rated East High. Both schools partners with the Waterloo Career Center, which offers courses and experiential learning in fields such as nursing, education and culinary arts. According to Draine, many people here are highly involved in the area’s houses of worship. This dense local landscape includes Methodist, Lutheran and Catholic churches, a Jehovah’s Witness Kingdom Hall, and several Baptist congregations, such as Antioch Baptist Church. The historically African American church formally opened in 1913 and continues to serve the community more than 120 years later. “They just gave out scholarships to the 2024 graduates, they’re pretty active,” Draine says. “I’ve had conversations with them where they’ve talked about making a teenage facility where teens can go and get help with homework.” The area is rich in nonprofits as well, including the Boys and Girls Club and the Salvation Army, which operates a large community center serving food and sheltering those in need.