Melissa, TX vs Waterloo, IA
Side-by-side comparison of housing, income, commute, safety, and quality of life.
Score Snapshot
No universal winner
Scores summarize the published model. Use the objective metric differences below and your own priorities to choose.
Melissa
74.8
#551 nationally
Waterloo
81.8
#36 nationally
Melissa leads in crime level (1.0 vs 13.0). Melissa leads in median household income ($138,465 vs $54,104). Waterloo leads in average commute (16.5 min vs 32.6 min).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Melissa, TX | Waterloo, IA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 74.8 (#551) | 81.8 (#36) |
| Population | 23,571 | 66,606 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $430,394 | $149,005 |
| Median Household Income | $138,465 | $54,104 |
| Average Commute | 32.6 min | 16.5 min |
| Walk Score | N/A | 37 |
| Crime Level | 1.0 | 13.0 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 125 | 88 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | R+11.2 | D+1.2 |
Data coverage note: Melissa is missing data for 1 metric that Waterloo has. Scores with less coverage are penalized — see our methodology.
C
74.8 Score
Melissa, TX
Small Texas city with local appeal
Median Home
$430,394
Population
23,571
Crime
Very Low
Median Income
$138,465
Southwest
View Melissa, TX →
B-
81.8 Score
Waterloo, IA
Iowa community balancing growth and livability
Median Home
$149,005
Population
66,606
Crime
Moderate-High
Walk Score
37
Midwest
View Waterloo, IA →