Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA local economy
76th
Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA ranks in the 76th percentile of United States metros as of September 2026, with momentum rising over the past 12 months.
Business formation
New business applications or registrations was 2,139 in January 2025, up 7.5% from January 2024.
Building permits
Dwelling units authorized by permit was 73 in July 2026.
Employment
Payrolled or covered employment was 82,819 in January 2026.
New business applications or registrations was 2,139 in January 2025, up 7.5% from January 2024. Dwelling units authorized by permit was 73 in July 2026.
Frequently asked questions
- How does Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA rank among United States metros?
- Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA ranks in the 76th percentile of United States metros as of September 2026, with momentum rising over the past 12 months.
- What is the new business applications or registrations in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA?
- New business applications or registrations in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA was 2,139 in January 2025.
- What is the dwelling units authorized by permit in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA?
- Dwelling units authorized by permit in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA was 73 in July 2026.
- What is the payrolled or covered employment in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA?
- Payrolled or covered employment in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA was 82,819 in January 2026.
Nearby and related
Sources and methodology
- U.S. Census Bureau — Business Formation Statistics (BFS)
- U.S. Census Bureau — Building Permits Survey (BPS), CBSA monthly
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW), national all-industry
Method: 2026.09. Updated 2026-09-10. Coverage: 100% of weighted components available.
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Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA local economy indicators. LocalEconomy.com. Retrieved 2026-10-09 from https://localeconomy.com/us/metro/waterloo-cedar-falls-ia/