Waco, Texas
Cost of living, housing, income, commute, climate, and safety — compiled for relocators researching Waco.
MapsToIt planning snapshot
How much does it cost to live in Waco?
Waco planning snapshot: population 141,925, housing index 74 (among the more affordable large markets in this catalog), median home $199,600, median rent $1,098, and income near $51,468. Expect 96°F summer highs, 38°F winter lows, and about 18-minute one-way commutes. Violent-offense rates run about 55 per 100k (catalog avg 602.7).
- Housing cost index
- 74U.S. avg 100
- Median home value
- $199,600U.S. $303,400
- Median rent
- $1,098U.S. $1,348
- Median income
- $51,468U.S. $78,538
- Unemployment
- 4.6%U.S. 4.2%
- Avg commute
- 18 minCatalog avg 25 min
- Violent crime
- 55per 100k · avg 602.7
- Summer high
- 96°FCatalog avg 87°F
Key figures
Each metric shows how Waco compares with the U.S. baseline (ACS/BLS nationals where available; catalog-city averages for crime, climate, and commute). Income, housing, population, and crime are for the incorporated city (city limits), not the broader metro/MSA — unemployment is county-level (BLS LAUS).
- Population
- 141,925City limits · not metro/MSA
- Median household income
- $51,468Incorporated place (ACS)34% below U.S. avgU.S. $78,538
- Housing cost index
- 74ACS home+rent vs U.S. (100 = avg)26% below U.S. avgU.S. 100
- Median home value
- $199,600City limits (ACS)34% below U.S. avgU.S. $303,400
- Median rent
- $1,098City limits (ACS)19% below U.S. avgU.S. $1,348
- Unemployment
- 4.6%County LAUS · not city-onlyNear U.S. avg (4.2 pts)U.S. 4.2 pts
- Avg commute
- 18 min28% below U.S. avgU.S. 25 min
- Walk Score
- 3229% below U.S. avgU.S. 45
- Violent crime rate
- 55launch estimate, not FBI-verified yet
- Property crime rate
- 68launch estimate, not FBI-verified yet
- Summer high
- 96°F9.0°F above U.S. avgU.S. 87°F
- Winter low
- 38°F4.0°F above U.S. avgU.S. 34°F
- Annual rainfall
- 36.4 in10% above U.S. avgU.S. 33 in
- Sunny days
- 2856% above U.S. avgU.S. 269
Population trend
Waco grew 16.9% from 125,377 in 2010 to 146,608 in 2024.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau PEP city/town estimates (2010–2024)
Is Waco expensive compared to the U.S. average?
Waco's housing cost index is 74 versus 100 nationally — among the more affordable large markets in this catalog. That gap is driven mainly by ACS median home values ($199,600 vs $303,400) and rents ($1,098 vs $1,348).
- Housing cost index 74 (U.S. 100)
- Median home $199,600 vs U.S. $303,400
- Median rent $1,098 vs U.S. $1,348
How much does housing cost in Waco?
Typical ownership costs center near $199,600, while median gross rent is about $1,098 a month. Against a median household income of $51,468, rent alone is roughly 26% of income on an annualized basis.
- Median home value $199,600
- Median rent $1,098/month
- Median household income $51,468
What is the job market like in Waco?
County unemployment recently ran 4.6% versus a U.S. rate of 4.2%. Median household income in Waco is about $51,468 (U.S. $78,538).
- Unemployment 4.6% (U.S. 4.2%)
- Median income $51,468
How long is the typical commute in Waco?
Average one-way commute time is about 18 minutes, with Walk Score near 32/100. The catalog-city average commute is 25 minutes.
- 18 minutes average one-way
- Walk Score 32/100
Is Waco safer than similar U.S. cities?
Published violent-offense rates are about 55 per 100k and property about 68 per 100k, versus catalog averages of 602.7 and 3084.9. Citywide rates hide large neighborhood differences.
- Violent 55 per 100k
- Property 68 per 100k
What is the climate like year-round in Waco?
Normals show summer highs near 96°F, winter lows near 38°F, about 36.4 inches of rain, and roughly 285 sunny days a year.
- Summer high 96°F
- Winter low 38°F
- 36.4 in rain · 285 sunny days
Compare Waco with another city
Hot summers, sprawling freeways, and no state income tax dominate comparisons. Roughly 285 sunny days a year give outdoor routines unusual calendar reliability. Average one-way commute time is about 18 minutes, and Walk Score estimates land around 32/100. Labor-market readings near 4.6% unemployment are neither boom nor bust by national standards. Safety figures are still on the curated-seed baseline for this city; check back once FBI Crime Data Explorer enrichment has run for an actual per-100k rate.
Waco, Texas counts about 141,925 residents inside the city limits. With median income around $51,468 and a cost index of 74, the market reads among the more affordable large markets in this catalog on housing costs. Entry home prices around $199,600 still look attainable compared with coastal metros.
Waco is compact enough that a single wrong neighborhood choice is easy to feel day to day — visit at commute hour before signing. Figures on this page are merged from Census ACS, BLS LAUS, FBI Crime Data Explorer, and NOAA Climate Normals — use them to compare Waco with nearby alternatives before you relocate.
Nearby & similar cities
Continue researching with these internal links — each page is a full data profile.
Sources
- Census / ACS: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 5-year (Waco city, 1600000US4876000)
- BLS: BLS LAUS · McLennan County, June 2026
- Crime: FBI Crime Data Explorer (curated seed)
- Climate: NOAA 1991–2020 Monthly Normals (USW00013959 WACO RGNL AP)
- Population trend: U.S. Census Bureau PEP city/town estimates (2010–2024)
Last updated 2026-08-03