A conglomeration of three counties slightly northeast of Iowa鈥檚 direct center, the metro area has seen home prices climb from $110,900 to $118,000 in the past year. It has a low foreclosure rate, a 5.6 percent unemployment rate (well below the national average) , rising household income, and an 8.7 percent vacancy rate (in 2010) that鈥檚 a third lower than the national average.
Waterloo enjoys a diversified economy. Its major employers include equipment-manufacturing company John Deere, Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare, meat processing company Tyson Fresh Meats, the University of Northern Iowa, Allen Memorial Hospital, and Waterloo Community Schools. In the past year, the metro has seen job gains in the trade, transportation, and utilities sector as well as in manufacturing. Last year, Moody鈥檚 projected the region would grow at an annual 2 percent rate through the third quarter of 2012.
