The median income in Waterloo has shown a generally positive trend over the past decade, increasing from $30,970 in 2013 to $39,158 in 2022. This represents a growth of about 26% over nine years. There have been fluctuations, with a peak of $44,866 in 2021 before a decline in 2022.

The population has experienced variability, decreasing from 13,527 in 2010 to a low of 11,936 in 2016, before increasing to 14,281 in 2022. This recent population growth coincides with the rise in median income, suggesting a potential influx of residents with higher earning capacity or improved economic conditions for existing residents.

The demographic stability of Waterloo contrasts with national trends, which have generally shown increasing diversity in many urban areas. However, the economic improvements align with broader post-recession recovery patterns seen across the United States.

The median income, while showing improvement, remains below the California state median income, which was around $78,672 in 2021. This indicates that Waterloo continues to face economic challenges compared to the broader state economy.

The consistently high Hispanic population percentage in Waterloo is characteristic of many Central Valley communities in California, which have long histories of Hispanic agricultural workers settling and establishing communities. The slight increase in the Asian population may reflect wider demographic shifts seen in many parts of California.

Waterloo presents a picture of a stable, predominantly Hispanic community that has experienced modest economic gains over the past decade. While it maintains a Low Diversity profile, the subtle shifts in demographics and the more noticeable improvements in median income suggest a neighborhood that is slowly evolving while maintaining its core cultural identity. The challenges of lower-than-state-average incomes persist, indicating ongoing economic disparities that may require targeted community development efforts.