$279,462Average Value$150Average Price per Sq Ft29Homes For Sale
A promising college town 20 miles north of Cedar Falls
Life in Waverly, Iowa, revolves around Wartburg College, a private liberal arts college that’s been at the center of the community since 1935. “We’re a smaller community of about 10,000, but we’re close to a few larger areas,” Century 21 Signature Realtor Jennifer Steere says. “College towns are very popular – especially in Iowa.” In addition to an enrollment of over 1,400 students, Wartburg College is also the city’s biggest economic driver, employing over 500 people. While small, Waverly is the largest city in Bremer County, and its top-rated educational options and a variety of indoor and outdoor recreation earn it the spot as the 16th best place to live in Iowa from Niche.com.
The people of Waverly take pride in their city and their communities.
Downtown Waverly straddles the Cedar River and features parks, trails, and plenty of shopping and dining.
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A limited market with diversified housing
Architectural styles range from contemporary to Victorian-style in Waverly’s real estate market, with some properties dating as far back as 1888. However, there is limited on-hand inventory with fewer than two months of supply at a time. “We do have some new construction, but not a lot,” Jennifer says. “We have farmland all around, so it’s very hard to expand the town as far as new construction goes.” The median sale price is $225,500, lower than the state and national median.
Older homes in Waverly come in various sizes, styles, and shapes.
Custom homes are popping up in developments like this one on Waverly's south side.
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Lutheran influences on education
The city shares a school district with its neighbor at Waverly-Shell Rock Community Schools, which earned an A-minus on Niche.com and was rated the second-best school district in Bremer County. St. Paul’s Lutheran Church has a private school serving preschool through sixth-grade students, while Wartburg College offers more than 60 areas of study on a 118-acre campus that sprawls across the center of the city.
Waverly-Shell Rock High School serves around 800 students in grades 9-12.
Wartburg College is a small private college with around 1,500 students.
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Camping at Cedar River
With 20 public parks and over 12 miles of scenic hiking and biking trails, Waverly is a vibrant recreational community with indoor and outdoor attractions. The W Sports & Wellness Center at Wartburg College has a vortex pool and a 30-foot climbing wall, while Cedar River Park has eight baseball diamonds and a soccer complex. Campsites are available on a first-come, first-served basis at the Cedar Bend campgrounds, and golfing tournaments are held throughout the year at the city’s two 18-hole courses.
Miles of trails and many parks are easily accessible for Waverly residents.
Cedar Bend Park is just north of Waverly and features hiking and camping on the banks of the Cedar River.
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Downtown dining and shopping selections
CrawDaddy Outdoors provides canoes and kayaks for Cedar River excursions and adventure trips to neighboring rivers and campsites. Beauty salons and novelty stores mainly populate the downtown district, while boutique shops like Moe & Arrow comprise much of the southwestern corridor. Local dining options include brunch spots like Wild Carrot and taprooms such as the Bremer Brewing Co. The closest grocery stores include Hy-Vee, Walmart and Aldi.
Downtown Waverly shops like The Prairie Bee offer locally-owned goods and services.
Bremer Brewing Company is a Waverly hotspot with award-winning craft beers.
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Shuttling along the Avenue of the Saints
Part of an interconnected four-lane highway system, Waverly provides residents with several public transportation options, including OnBoard Public Transit, which services Bremer and its surrounding counties. Reservations can also be made for the Saints Avenue Shuttle service, which provides $10-$20 rides to University of Iowa hospitals and clinics on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Residents have an accredited health care provider in the Waverly Health Center, while the closest commercial airport is 20 miles south at the Waterloo Regional Airport.
Sounds of the Wartburg Community Symphony
In addition to having performing arts venues in the Bachman Fine Arts Center and the Shades of Rhythm Amphitheater, Wartburg musicians also volunteer for the community symphony. The Waverly Chamber Music Series also hosts concerts in the fall and spring.
Weather & Crime
Getting an average of 35 inches of snowfall yearly means crews are always out bright and early, plowing streets between 2 and 4 a.m. Flooding is a minimal risk thanks to the inflatable dam that was finished in 2011, but residents on the southeastern end of the city should be on the lookout if Janesville’s river gauge exceeds 11 feet. According to the Waverly Police Department, the property crime rate is below the national average, while violent crime is higher than the national average.
Written By
David Dunn
Photography Contributed By
Drew Davis
Video By
Conar McDaniel
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
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an experienced agent in this area.
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
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On average, homes in Waverly, IA sell after 34 days on the market compared to the national average of 53 days. The median sale price for homes in Waverly, IA over the last 12 months is $230,000, up 1% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Welcome to this established and well-kept 1-story home in a friendly neighborhood with mature trees, creating a peaceful atmosphere. The property has a partial fence for added privacy and good space for outdoor activities. You will appreciate the large 684 sq ft garage, offering ample room for parking and storage. The home features a big living room window that lets in plenty of natural light,
Step into the Easton, an expertly designed ranch-style home located in the sought-after Stone Meadows development. This 3-bedroom, 2-bath new build offers open-concept living with 1,392 finished square feet on the main level and an unfinished walkout basement, perfect for future expansion. Thoughtfully curated upgrades include a tile shower in the primary suite, a 12x14 deck overlooking the
Absolutely better than new! Updated top to bottom & set on a tree lined rolling acre lot. Kitchen- New! Lighting- New! Bathroom fixtures and cabinets- New! Flooring- New! You get the idea! Main floor and lower level laundry options. Light and bright corner Master Suite, 3-4 Bedrooms (1 non-conforming). Oversized, insulated garage & newly graded/seeded lawn complete the package. You'll love the
Cedar Point Addition - an excellent location for commercial development on east side of Waverly next to the Cedar River Parkway Bypass of downtown Waverly. Traffic count over 4400 daily. Also located near the new Bremer Co Fairgrounds, east side commercial areas and residential development. On US Highway 3, it is the primary access road to Waverly from the east; for communities like Denver,
Great Buildable Site!! Zoned A-2 - this beautiful 1.89 acre parcel is a great location for a building site! Overlooking Hwy 218 just West of Waverly, Iowa. Shared driveway to this great 1.89 parcel with a 33' easement on the south side of this parcel running east to west. Then a 33' easement on east side of CRP property running north to south to a 5.6 acre parcel (also available).
Highlights: Good Location Good CSR Pattern Tiled Location of Land: Located 2.5 miles Northeast of Waverly, Iowa Directions to the Farm: From Waverly, head East on 2nd Ave NE for 0.5 miles. Take a slight left on 10th St NE for 0.2 miles. Then continue onto Bremer Rd for 1 mile. Continue onto 212th St for 0.5 miles. Then turn left onto Garden Ave for 0.8 miles. The property will be on the West
*First month FREE for new leases starting before 2/1/2026*Why your next home should be at Pinnacle Villages!- New apartments located in Waverly, Iowa- Private balcony / patio- Ideal for young professionals or families new to the area- Two car attached garage on every unit!- Free access to Prairie Links Pool - Free golf membership at Prairie Links Golf Course
Welcome to Palace Apartments in the heart of downtown Waverly, IA. Our newly constructed apartments feature modern amenities such as hardwood floors, quartz countertops, and stainless steel appliances. Enjoy the convenience of online rent payment and maintenance requests, as well as the luxury of having a washer and dryer in your unit. Take advantage of the free golf membership and pool access
Find your perfect home at Rolling Meadows, where comfort, convenience, and a welcoming community come together. Whether you're a student, young professional, or simply looking for a peaceful place to live, Rolling Meadows offers everything you need to feel right at home.Features You'll Appreciate:-Just minutes from Wartburg College- ideal for students and staff-Garages
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