Life in Waterloo’s Common Grounds is all in the name. “It’s a friendly neighborhood,” says Ken Draine, Realtor with Skogman Realty who has worked extensively here. “It has a mixed culture and it’s growing.” This is a place where community is fought for and celebrated. Many locals are highly active in the area’s diverse houses of worship and nearby nonprofits, and community events are well-attended. The neighborhood offers many practicalities, too, including relatively affordable homes and access to parks. People here enjoy quick commutes to manufacturers and other employers, as well as downtown’s growing restaurant and entertainment scene.
Common Grounds
Common Grounds
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New local businesses popping up near Downtown Waterloo
Within the neighborhood, family-owned D & K Hickory House boasts the best ribs in Waterloo. Reservations fill up quickly at this longtime establishment, suggesting that many locals agree. Neighborhood newcomers can join the regulars at Park Road Inn, which makes its own claim to fame as the oldest bar in Waterloo. For nights in, Tortas y Tacos DelValle is popular for takeout. Downtown restaurants such as the beloved Morg’s diner and the lively Screaming Eagle bar and venue are only a mile from many homes.
All-In Grocers — the closest grocery option — opened in 2023, filling a hole in the area’s access to fresh ingredients. The store is locally owned, and has an attached community center offering after school programming and assistance for people adjusting to life after incarceration.
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Quick access to John Deere and other employers
Location is a primary draw here, according to Draine. U.S. Route 63 borders the neighborhood, giving residents a straight shot to the downtown corridor a mile away and local manufacturers such as John Deere. “It might take you 7 or 8 minutes to get to most of the major job centers,” he says. Commuters can also hop on bus line 3, which stops along Route 63.
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Shaded green space in Sullivan Memorial Park
Community members gather to relax and recreate at Sullivan Memorial Park, which has a baseball diamond, a playground, shaded picnic tables and ample green space for kids to burn off steam. Scenic river views are also nearby at Joe Straub Memorial Field, which connects to Riverside Skate Park and the mixed-use Cedar Valley Lakes Trail. Golf enthusiasts enjoy proximity to two 18-hole courses which offer day-rates and season passes: Gates Park Golf Course and Red Carpet Golf Course.
A Juneteenth tradition dating back 30 years
Sullivan Memorial Park hosts Waterloo’s annual Juneteenth celebration, a local tradition for nearly 30 years. In 2024, the event featured a march from Ferguson Field to the park, where participants were greeted with food vendors, live performances, kids’ activities and a proclamation from Mayor Quentin Hart. The region’s Boys and Girls Club also hosts an annual Back to School Bash at the park, celebrating the return to school with family-friendly entertainment and community giveaways.
Homes below the Waterloo median price
Common Grounds is densely residential. Homes often sit close together, and neighbors get to know each other both out of desire and necessity. Kids can use narrow, grass-flanked sidewalks to reach friends’ homes down the block or on the other end of the neighborhood. The architectural landscape here includes many two-bedroom bungalows and Foursquare homes built between 1900 and 1950. Prices typically range between $50,000 and $120,000, below the Waterloo median price. “It’s a lot of families and first-time homebuyers,” Draine says. “It’s pretty diverse.” The neighborhood attracts investors, too, as many homes are due for renovations and upgrades.
Waterloo has a history of flooding, and parts of Common Grounds are at an elevated risk, especially homes closer to Cedar River. The last major flood was in 2008, though the city has since invested $17 million in a stormwater flood pump station.
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Students are split into two Waterloo pipelines
Kids here start at Lincoln Elementary, which has a C-minus from Niche, or Becker Elementary, which gets a C. Becker hosts family events throughout the school year, including read-ins, a Halloween Trunk or Treat and Becker Bash, a spring celebration with food vendors, games and face painting. These students continue on to Central Middle, and Lincoln kids head to George Washington Carver Academy. Both have a C-minus. Students are again split between B-minus-rated West High and C-plus-rated East High. Both schools partners with the Waterloo Career Center, which offers courses and experiential learning in fields such as nursing, education and culinary arts.
Lincoln Elementary School
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Engaging locally through nonprofits and houses of worship
According to Draine, many people here are highly involved in the area’s houses of worship. This dense local landscape includes Methodist, Lutheran and Catholic churches, a Jehovah’s Witness Kingdom Hall, and several Baptist congregations, such as Antioch Baptist Church. The historically African American church formally opened in 1913 and continues to serve the community more than 120 years later. “They just gave out scholarships to the 2024 graduates, they’re pretty active,” Draine says. “I’ve had conversations with them where they’ve talked about making a teenage facility where teens can go and get help with homework.”
The area is rich in nonprofits as well, including the Boys and Girls Club and the Salvation Army, which operates a large community center serving food and sheltering those in need.
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Gerald Sorensen,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Parks in this Area
Sullivan Memorial park
Longfellow Park
Crime and Safety
1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime
Common Grounds
US
Homicide
7
4
Sexual Assault
6
4
Assault with Weapon
7
4
Robbery
6
4
Burglary
5
4
Motor Vehicle Theft
4
4
Larceny
4
4
Crime Score
5
4
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Common Grounds, Waterloo sell after 44 days on the market compared to the national average of 47 days. The average sale price for homes in Common Grounds, Waterloo over the last 12 months is $79,836, up 11% from the average home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Home Trends
Median Price (12 Mo)
$77,225
Median Single Family Price
$77,225
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$81
Last 12 months Home Sales
18
Median List Price
$80,225
Median Discount From 1st List Price
3%
Median Home Sale Price YoY Change
29%
Home Facts
Number of Homes in Neighborhood
701
Median Year Built
1914
Avg. Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
1,069
Significantly below the national average
1,936
Average Townhouse Size Sq Ft
1,697
Median Lot Size Sq Ft
6,534
Distribution of Home Values
Source: Public Records
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Gerald Sorensen,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Average Home Value
Source: Public Records
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Renters
Demographics
Total Population
1,800
Median Age
33
Population Density
7 ppl/acre
Population under 18
29.9%
Above the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
13.3%
Below the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$29,749
Significantly below the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$38,933
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
83.7%
College Graduates
11.8%
Below the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
3.8%
Below the national average
13.3%
% Population in Labor Force
68%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
36''
Average Winter Low Temperature
11°F
Average Summer High Temperature
85°F
Annual Snowfall
24''
Area Factors
Somewhat Bikeable
Bike Score®
38/ 100
Car-Dependent
Walk Score®
49/ 100
Minimal Transit
Transit Score®
19/ 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
