Commercial Real Estate Market in Cedar Falls, IA
Updated monthly: sale, lease, property records, location trend, and more… · Last update: August 31
272 active listings and 2,483 off-market properties in Cedar Falls, IA. Commercial property asks $298/SF to buy and $16.50/SF/Yr to lease.
Market Trends
Cedar Falls, IA spans 127.6 square miles in Black Hawk County, Iowa. Figures below refresh monthly; last updated 31 August 2026.
Office
Office vacancy in Cedar Falls, IA runs 21.3% across the Midwest region in 2025, up from 13.7% in 2019.
Vacancy Rate % in Midwest region
Retail
Retail vacancy in Cedar Falls, IA runs 6.3% across the Midwest region in 2025, down from 8% in 2020.
Vacancy Rate % in Midwest region
Industrial
Industrial vacancy in Cedar Falls, IA runs 4.9% across the Midwest region in 2025, up from 4.4% in 2019. Nearly 1.6x the 2022 low of 3.1%.
Vacancy Rate % in Midwest region
Multifamily
Multifamily vacancy in Cedar Falls, IA runs 8% across the Midwest region in 2025, up from 6.5% in 2022.
Vacancy Rate % in Midwest region
Market overview
Demographics & Economy
Cedar Falls, IA has 43,667 residents in 17,808 households. Density runs 342 people per square mile. Median household income here is $75,642 and median gross rent $1,176 a month.
43,667
Population
17,808
Households
2.5
Avg Household Size
32
Median Age
48%
College-Educated
97%
High-School Grad
127.6 sq mi
ZIP Area
342
Density / Sq Mi
$75,642
Median Household Income
$33,099
Median Earnings
$1,176
Median Rent
$258,300
Median Home Value
Tools
Lease vs Buy Breakeven
At $16.50/SF/Yr lease vs $298/SF buy → buying wins if held > 6.9 years.
At a 5.5% gross asking yield the payback reads short relative to leasing. Assumes 30% down at 6.5% fixed, 2% a year in taxes and upkeep, 3% appreciation, 5% opportunity cost, 2% closing plus 5% selling costs, and a 3% annual rent escalator.
Nearby Markets
| Market | Average Sale Price, $/SF | Average Lease Price, $/SF/Yr |
|---|---|---|
| Waterloo | — | $16.74 |
| Janesville | — | — |
| Finchford | — | — |
| Washburn | — | — |
Commercial property in Cedar Falls, IA asks $298/SF.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average price per square foot for commercial property in Cedar Falls?
Commercial property in Cedar Falls, IA asks an average of $298 per square foot. The 5 most recent recorded sales traded at a median of $203/SF, so asking sits 47% above the achieved median.
How much does it cost to lease commercial space in Cedar Falls?
Asking lease rates in Cedar Falls, IA average $16.50 per square foot per year.
Is it cheaper to lease or buy commercial space in Cedar Falls?
Buying beats leasing in Cedar Falls, IA if the property is held longer than 6.9 years, comparing $16.50/SF/Yr asking rent with $298/SF asking price. The model assumes 30% down at 6.5% fixed, 2% of value per year in taxes and upkeep, 3% appreciation, 5% opportunity cost on the cash and a 3% annual rent escalator.
Where does Realmo's Cedar Falls market data come from?
Realmo compiles Cedar Falls, IA figures from 8 recent recorded sales, 239 active sale listings, 33 active lease listings, 2,483 tracked off-market properties. Sale and lease figures refresh monthly; vacancy annually. Last updated 31 August 2026.
Methodology & data sources
- Asking prices and averages
- Computed from 239 active for-sale and 33 active for-lease listings in Cedar Falls, IA. These are ASKING figures from live listings, not closed-transaction prices, and a segment carried by a handful of listings reads as indicative rather than an average.
- Vacancy rates
- Published per-sector market series, taken at the metro level where one exists and otherwise at the Census-region level — a chart reading "in <region> region" is a regional number, not this city's.
- Refresh
- The monthly aggregates close at the end of the previous month, so 31 August 2026 — not today — is the honest last update.
- Known limitations
- office vacancy is reported at Midwest region level, retail vacancy is reported at Midwest region level and industrial vacancy is reported at Midwest region level.
- Coverage
- Metrics below the 10-observation threshold fall back one geographic level. The geography used is named on each figure.
Compiled by the Realmo Data team · reviewed 31 August 2026 · report a data issue
