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Waverly, IA

Photo: Wikipedia

Waverly, IA

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Demographics

Predominantly WhiteSimpson's Diversity Index: 19
Population10,446
Foreign Born0.9%
Population Density928people per mi²
Median Age32.5 yrs
Demographics Trajectory
StableSince 2010, this city has held a relatively stable population and racial composition.
Current Race / Ethnicity Breakdown
Population Trends

Quality of Life

Overall Quality Of Life
B
Good

Above-average quality of iife. The area offers a reasonable cost of living, decent mobility, and a mix of neighborhood amenities.

Quality of Life blends cost of living, nearby amenities, socioeconomic signals, and neighborhood character. City-level scores represent the whole municipality; individual neighborhoods can differ.

Cost of Living

77/100

23% below national average

A+

The Real Cost of Living in Waverly, Iowa

TierIndividualFamily (4)
Survival $15k$27k
Comfortable $42k$61k
Luxury $142k+$220k+
Elite (Top 5%) $190k+$294k+
Affordability Ratio

128%

The Hood Index™

A metric tracking the socioeconomic signals of the area.

A
Hood Index scan area
Luxury Lean83%
RisksNeutralGrowth
Premium
9
Positive
13
Poor
2
Negative
2

Groceries

7 within 10 miles

0.4mi

Gas

8 within 10 miles

0.2mi

Hospital

3 within 20 miles

13.4mi

Airport

ORD — Chicago O'Hare International

238.3mi

Post Office

USPS — Waverly, IA

0.2mi

Critical Amenities

Country Clubs

Nearest private club or country club.

Golf2Nearest 0.9 mi
Camping20Nearest 13.6 mi
Marina1Nearest 9.7 mi
Winery0 
Ice Rink0Nearest 52.4 mi
Gun Range2Nearest 7.7 mi

Affluence Level

Overall Affluence Grade
C-
Average

A middle-class area roughly in line with national averages across income, home values, education, and employment.

Median HHI
$78k+0.2%
4% above US avg
Est. Avg Net Worth
$618k
6% below US avg
College Educated
43.9%
25% above US avg
WFH
10.0%
30% below US avg
Homeownership
71.2%
9% above US avg
Median Home
$215k
24% below US avg

Crime

Overall Crime Grade
A+
Very Safe

Lower crime rates than 91% of comparable U.S. locations.

Crime Rate
12.2
Incidents per 1,000 residents
5yr Trend
−34.8%
Overall crime change since 2020

Violent Crime

5yr−81.9%
Homicide
0.00 / 1k Residents100% below state avg
Robbery
0.00 / 1k Residents100% below state avg
Aggravated Assault
0.38 / 1k Residents79% below state avg

Property Crime

5yr+12.2%
Burglary
0.66 / 1k Residents61% below state avg
Larceny-Theft
10.46 / 1k Residents20% above state avg
Motor Vehicle Theft
0.28 / 1k Residents76% below state avg
Source: FBI Crime Data · 2025

Political Climate

Cook PVI: R+4Tilts Conservative

District shown is the primary district for this city’s centroid. Cities may span multiple districts.

Presidential Voting Trends for Waverly, Iowa
Dem Rep
40%50%20002004

Personal Sovereignty

Personal Sovereignty measures your capacity for self-reliance and independence with minimal government friction. Higher scores mean fewer barriers between you and the way you want to live... but it assumes you have the space you need and good neighbors.

Overall Sovereignty Grade
B+
Self-Reliant

Viable for self-reliance. Generally workable, though some barriers may limit total independence.

State Policy

Tax Burden
D+
Weak11.2% of income
Property Rights
B-
GoodIJ Grade B-
Firearm Rights
A
GreatFPC Grade A
Homeschooling
A+
GreatNo notice required

Energy independence: Importer (50% of energy produced in-state)

Personal Liberty

Raw Milk
A-
OpenFarm sales legal
Gambling Laws
A
Broadly OpenCasinos · Poker · Sportsbetting
Marijuana Laws
C+
LimitedMedical only

Homesteading

Hardiness Zone5A~-17°F min
Growing Season171 days222 frost-free
Annual Rainfall41.5"
Elevation928 ft

Strategic Assessment

Strategic Assessment grades tactical survivability using Joel Skousen's Strategic Relocation framework. Major population centers, blast zones, natural disasters, and border exposure all drive risk — lower exposure means a more defensible position in a crisis.

Learn more about Strategic Relocation ($)
Overall Strategic Grade
B
Defensible

Workable tactical position. Some exposure to population density or targets, but generally defensible in a crisis.

Strategic Pillars

City Proximity
B+
Fair254 mi to nearest major city
Pop. Density
C-
Weak928/sq mi
Fallout Danger
B+
Good2 within ~30 mi
Natural Disaster
A-
GoodInland Flooding, Tornado, Drought, Strong Wind, Cold Wave
Border / Coast
A+
Greatborder 386 mi · coast 860 mi
FEMA Expected Loss$15.3M/yrfor the county

Key Distances

Nearest Major CitySaint Paul312k people are 157 mi away
Nearest Major AirportNo hub airport within 50 mi
Distance to State Capital99 miDes Moines, IA
Nearest Prison17 mi1 within 25 mi

* Values derived from national, state, county, city and local statistics and may differ in a specific area. Last updated: 2026-04-20T06:24:44.000Z

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