Cedar Falls, IA housing market
Typical home value
$266K
▲ 1.6% 1 yr
Typical rent
$1,405/mo
▲ 4.1% 1 yr
Gross rent yield
6.3%
U.S. 6.3%
5-year home value change
+26%
U.S. +20%
Key takeaways
- 1The typical home in Cedar Falls is worth $265,713, up 1.6% over the past year and up 26% over five years.
- 2Typical rent is $1,405 a month (+4.1% YoY), a gross rent yield of 6.3% (above the Waterloo, IA metro's 6.2%).
- 3With 20% down at 7.32%, principal and interest on the typical home is about $1,460/mo, $55 more than typical rent.
- 4Zillow forecasts the Waterloo, IA metro's home values to change +2.4% over the next 12 months.
Market temperature (Waterloo, IA metro)
Buyer's market
Buyer'sNeutralSeller's
Zillow Market Heat Index: 43/100, #233 hottest of 546 metros. Below 44 favors buyers; above 55 favors sellers.
Home values and rent
Source: Zillow Research (ZHVI, ZORI and market activity data).
How Cedar Falls compares
| Measure | Cedar Falls | Waterloo, IA metro | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Typical home value | $265,713 | $197,585 | $366,157 |
| Home value, 1-yr change | +1.6% | +0.9% | +1.2% |
| Typical rent | $1,405 | $1,023 | $1,932 |
| Rent, 1-yr change | +4.1% | +4.1% | +2.7% |
| Gross rent yield | 6.3% | 6.2% | 6.3% |
| Price-to-rent ratio | 15.8 | 16.1 | 15.8 |
| Mortgage P&I, typical home | $1,460 | $1,086 | $2,012 |
Run the numbers
Rental property calculator
Cash flow on a typical Cedar Falls rental, pre-filled.
Rent vs buy in Cedar Falls
Which costs less over the years you'll stay.
Mortgage calculator
Monthly payment on a $266K home.
Other cities in the Waterloo, IA metro
City figures are Zillow's typical home value (ZHVI) and observed rent (ZORI). Gross yield is before expenses. Data refreshed Oct 26, 2026.