Raleigh, NC vs Waterloo, IA
Side-by-side comparison of housing, income, commute, safety, and quality of life.
Score Snapshot
No universal winner
Scores summarize the published model. Use the objective metric differences below and your own priorities to choose.
Raleigh
71
#1035 nationally
Waterloo
81.8
#36 nationally
Waterloo leads in crime level (13.0 vs 32.0). Raleigh leads in median household income ($82,424 vs $54,104). Waterloo leads in average commute (16.5 min vs 24.3 min).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Raleigh, NC | Waterloo, IA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 71 (#1035) | 81.8 (#36) |
| Population | 470,763 | 66,606 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $435,237 | $149,005 |
| Median Household Income | $82,424 | $54,104 |
| Average Commute | 24.3 min | 16.5 min |
| Walk Score | 31 | 37 |
| Crime Level | 32.0 | 13.0 |
| School Rating | 7.5 | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 105 | 88 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+25.6 | D+1.2 |
C-
71 Score
Raleigh, NC
Research Triangle innovation hub
Median Home
$435,237
Population
470,763
Crime
Moderate-Low
Schools
B+
Southeast
View Raleigh, NC →
B-
81.8 Score
Waterloo, IA
Iowa community balancing growth and livability
Median Home
$149,005
Population
66,606
Crime
Moderate-High
Walk Score
37
Midwest
View Waterloo, IA →