Health Profile of Waterloo, Iowa
Waterloo Health Score
The Map AI Health Index is a score that reflects local life expectancy, disease rates, healthcare access, and physical environment to help you quickly compare the overall health and well-being of different areas.
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C
Waterloo Below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
General Health Overview
| Metric | Waterloo | Iowa Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life Expectancy (years) | 77.1 | 79.2 | 78.3 |
| Uninsured Population (%) | 7.1% | 5.0% | 8.4% |
| Self-Rated Poor Health | 17.3% | 13.6% | 16.3% |
Life expectancy in Waterloo is 77.1 years, about 2.1 years shorter than the Iowa average of 79.2 years. The uninsured rate is 7.1%, higher than the Iowa average of 5.0%. Self-rated poor health is reported by 17.3% of residents, higher than the Iowa average of 13.6%.
Population by Age
Older residents
21,605 residents in Waterloo are age 50 or older.
- 85+ 1,360 408 men · 952 women
- 75–84 3,141 1,414 men · 1,727 women
- 65–74 5,715 2,680 men · 3,035 women
- 50–64 11,389 5,493 men · 5,896 women
Younger residents
14,749 residents in Waterloo are age 17 or younger.
- 12–17 4,058 2,005 boys · 2,053 girls
- 7–12 4,070 2,069 boys · 2,002 girls
- 3–7 3,666 1,875 boys · 1,791 girls
- 0–3 2,955 1,477 boys · 1,478 girls
About 3,695 residents in Waterloo (5.8% of the population) are older than the area's life expectancy of 77.1 years.
The highlighted slice of the age axis is the share of residents older than the life-expectancy mark.
Disease Prevalence
| Disease / Condition | Waterloo | Iowa Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diabetes | 11.8% | 10.6% | 11.3% |
| Cancer | 6.1% | 7.6% | 6.9% |
| Heart Diseases | 6.7% | 7.3% | 7.1% |
| Adult Obesity | 42.6% | 37.3% | 34.3% |
The rate of cancer in Waterloo is about 20% lower than in Iowa.
Health Behaviors
| Behavior | Waterloo | Iowa Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smokers | 21.1% | 17.6% | 19.0% |
| Binge Drinking | 21.8% | 20.8% | 16.5% |
| Sedentary Lifestyle | 28.8% | 25.4% | 25.1% |
The rate of smoking in Waterloo is about 20% higher than in Iowa.
Assuming each smoker smokes 10 cigarettes a day, that's about 101,897 cigarettes a day, 3.1 million a month, or 37.2 million a year! At 11 minutes* of life lost per cigarette, that's about 1.1 million minutes a day and 409.1 million a year lost to smoking overall - and since life expectancy in Waterloo is 77.1 years, that's roughly equivalent to 0.03 lifetimes a day, or 10 lifetimes a year.
* Source: Shaw M, Mitchell R, Dorling D. "Time for a smoke? One cigarette reduces your life by 11 minutes." BMJ. 2000;320:53.
Illustrative only. This is not an estimate of how many people actually die from smoking each day or year - it's a rough, order-of-magnitude comparison meant to help grasp the scale of smoking in this area. We take no responsibility for any decisions made based on this figure.
Air Quality
| Metric | Waterloo | Iowa Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Pollution (μg/m³) | 6.92 | 6.49 | 6.09 |
With an annual average of 6.9 µg/m³ of fine particulate matter (PM2.5), air quality in Waterloo is good — generally safe air quality for the vast majority of residents.
Waterloo, IA Health Compared With Nearby Cities
How Waterloo, IA compares with the 1 cities closest to it.
| Area | Population | Life expectancy | Uninsured | Obesity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waterloo, IA | 64,027 | 77.1 yrs #2/2 | 7.1% #2/2 | 42.6% #2/2 |
| Cedar Falls, IA | 33,959 | 79.8 yrs | 3.2% | 33.8% |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Waterloo, Iowa has an overall health index grade of C, making it about on par with Iowa, and about on par with the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about health in Waterloo, Iowa.
How healthy is Waterloo, Iowa?
Waterloo, Iowa has a Map AI Health Index grade of C, based on life expectancy, disease rates, healthcare access, and the physical environment; a C grade means residents are close to the U.S. average.
How long do people live in Waterloo, Iowa?
People in Waterloo, Iowa can expect to live 77.1 years on average, 2.1 years shorter than the Iowa average of 79.2.
What is the uninsured rate in Waterloo, Iowa?
7.1% of residents in Waterloo, Iowa have no health insurance, about 1 in 14 people, 2.1 points above the Iowa rate of 5.0%.
What is the obesity rate in Waterloo, Iowa?
42.6% of adults in Waterloo, Iowa are classified as obese, about 1 in 2, 5.3 points above the Iowa rate of 37.3%.
How many cigarettes do smokers in Waterloo, Iowa go through, and how much life does that cost?
Assuming each smoker smokes 10 cigarettes a day, that's about 101,897 cigarettes a day, 3.1 million a month, or 37.2 million a year! At 11 minutes* of life lost per cigarette, that's about 1.1 million minutes a day and 409.1 million a year lost to smoking overall - and since life expectancy in Waterloo is 77.1 years, that's roughly equivalent to 0.03 lifetimes a day, or 10 lifetimes a year.
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