2025 Compare Cities Overview:
Waterloo, IA vs Champaign, IL

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Highlights
Are people in Champaign older or younger than people in Waterloo?
- The Median Age in Champaign is 9.9 years younger than in Waterloo.

Are housing costs cheaper in Champaign or Waterloo?
- Champaign housing costs are 57.4% more expensive than Waterloo housing costs.

Which city has a longer commute, Champaign or Waterloo?
- The average commute for residents of Champaign is 0.2 minutes longer than it is for residents of Waterloo.

Things to do in Waterloo?
Waterloo, Iowa is a charming city located in the heart of northeast Iowa. It features a small-town atmosphere combined with big city amenities. Residents here enjoy plenty of shopping and entertainment options such as Crossroads Mall or the National Cattle Congress Grounds. There are also several outdoor activities to take part in at George Wyth State Park or Sullivan Lake. With its strong economy, scenic beauty and amazing attractions, it's no wonder why so many people choose to call Waterloo their home!

Things to do in Champaign?
Champaign, Illinois is a thriving university town located approximately two hours south of Chicago. It has plenty of recreational facilities ranging from libraries to state parks offering access to Lake of the Woods Forest Preserve or Homer Lake.

 Waterloo, IAChampaign, ILUnited States
 Population  Unlock88,343329,725,481
 Median Income$49,430  Unlock$69,021
 Median Age  Unlock26.938.4
 Avg. Home Price$121,000  Unlock$338,100
 Unemployment Rate  Unlock4.9%6.0%
 Avg. Commute Time15.53  Unlock26.38
Reviews for Waterloo    5 Reviews

The bike racks recently installed on the MET buses was a great idea for a community that has numerous bike riders and  More

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Over 17 years ago

Unless you're into getting wasted on a regular basis there's not a lot to do here. Most people barhop for fun. Being someone who doesn't drink and doesn't enjoy being  More

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Over 17 years ago

So the weather is emotional here - on and off during the summer its hot and rainy, yet during the fall it is quite often beautiful. Winters can be long, and spring can  More

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Reviews for Champaign    13 Reviews

Over 6 years ago

Pros - close to Chicago, has Parkland community college and lots of places to eat. There is a train station downtown that is really good. Beautiful deciduous trees and  More

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Over 8 years ago

I wonderful city with great  More

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Actually it's barely a nice place to live. The pros: Not terribly expensive - at one point the least expensive place to live in the country among modest sized  More

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