Imperial, NE vs Waterloo, NE

Imperial is moderately more affordable than Waterloo, with a 7.5% lower cost of living index. Imperial scores 78 compared to 84 for Waterloo, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Waterloo can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Imperial is $1,046/month compared to $1,125/month in Waterloo — a 7% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Imperial is more affordable at $176,700 median vs $218,400.

Median household income in Imperial is $71,667 compared to $75,417 in Waterloo (-5%). The higher salaries in Waterloo partially offset the cost difference, but don't fully close the gap. Looking at affordability, residents of Imperial spend roughly 17.5% of their income on rent, less than the 17.9% in Waterloo.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (51.3°F vs 52.4°F). Waterloo receives more rainfall at 31.9" per year compared to 17.5" in Imperial.