RANK #621 / 1001 NAT · #8 / 11 IA · POP 131,049
1YR FORECAST: +1.5%
5YR OUTLOOK: +16%
Black Hawk County, Iowa, is distinguished by the Cedar River, which flows through its center and shapes a landscape of level floodplains and integrated drainage networks. Located in northeastern Iowa, the county seat of Waterloo is approximately an hour and a half drive northeast of Des Moines. The community offers a blend of urban amenities, particularly in its larger cities of Waterloo and Cedar Falls, alongside accessible natural spaces. Commute times are generally short, averaging around 15.9 minutes. The county also maintains over 9,000 acres of public land, including parks, wetlands, and an extensive trail system for biking, birdwatching, and kayaking.
Life in Black Hawk County balances urban convenience with Midwestern character. The area attracts families and young professionals, supported by above-average public schools and institutions like the University of Northern Iowa. The economy is diverse, with a workforce employed across sectors such as manufacturing, healthcare, and retail. Recent economic developments in the county have focused on attracting investment in various industries, including advanced manufacturing and logistics.
Black Hawk County is one of 145 U.S. counties in this market profile — weaker than typical on the BoomTown Index. Within this cohort, its recent home-price change of +0.9% runs below the profile's typical +4.9%.
See all 145 Heartland Steady Growth counties →Below national median (11.3x)
Well below national median
Harsh climate or flat terrain
Above national median (15x)
Housing is fairly valued at 5.8x relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Bars show trailing 12-month growth. The dashed Forecast bars are the model's next-12-month projection; the whisker marks the ±1% range (cooling–accelerating).
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: Homicide rates from CDC/NCHS vital-statistics mortality data — a multi-year average that stabilizes counts in smaller counties — compiled in the County Health Rankings 2025 release. Rates per 100,000 population; U.S. average ≈ 6.5. Grade reflects homicide rate relative to the national average. Learn more →
See where Black Hawk County stands nationally: safest large counties in America · highest homicide-rate counties.
Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Electrifarm Natural Gas Plant
MidAmerican Energy Co.
|
$264M | Operating |
|
Audubon Heights Master-Planned Community
Skogman Homes
|
$50M | Under Construction |
|
Tyson Fresh Meats Pork Processing Plant
Tyson Fresh Meats, Inc.
|
— | Operating |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
At 37/100, Black Hawk County faces headwinds that place it in the lower third of the 1001 counties we track. Median income of $66,417 combined with job growth of -0.2% suggests the local economy is struggling to keep pace with national trends.
By national standards, Black Hawk County is quite affordable. Homes here have a median value of $188,900, and the income-to-home-value ratio of 0.35 is well above the U.S. average — especially with median rent at just $989/month. Residents can generally buy a home without being cost-burdened.
Population and employment in Black Hawk County are both close to flat — population +0.3% YoY and jobs -0.2%. Home values shifted +0.9% over the past 12 months. A steady-state county, neither expanding quickly nor shrinking.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 4.64% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Black Hawk County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.