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Living in
Waco.
About
Life in Waco
Sitting halfway between Dallas and Austin on I-35, Waco offers something increasingly rare in Texas—affordable urban living without the traffic nightmare. With a median home value around $221,700 and median rent at $1,165 a month, your money stretches further here than in either neighbor city, and the 4.1% unemployment rate suggests decent job stability across the metro area of roughly 310,000 people. The city itself is home to Baylor University, McLennan Community College, and Texas State Technical College, which anchor the economy and create a younger-skewing population (median age of 30.6) with genuine diversity—the city has grown more diverse over decades, and you'll find a substantial Latino community alongside established African American and Asian neighborhoods.
Waco at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
29.7 yrs
Poverty Rate
23.1%
Foreign-Born
10.5%
Broadband Internet
88.9%
of households
Population Growth
+5.5%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics10.5% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Waco: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Waco, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (66.6%), and 20.4% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
22.8%
of residents
65 and Older
13.4%
of residents
Households with Kids
29.2%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
31.8%
of households
Married Couples
37.8%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.51
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 17% below TX average
Rent, home values, and income in Waco
In Waco, rent runs 17% below the TX average, and home values are 22% below the TX average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
54.7%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
30.7%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
92.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$3,537
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
49.4%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1979
median year built
Vacant Homes
11.9%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $192,729 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for TX
Unemployment in Waco
Unemployment in Waco is close to the TX average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Waco Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute18.7 min avg
How Waco residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Waco, most residents drive alone to work (76%), and 86% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 7 mi
Waco Regional Airport (ACT)
Regional airport · few flights53k passengers boarded in 2025
- 91 mi
Dallas Love Field (DAL)
Medium hub8.2M passengers boarded in 2025
- 93 mi
Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW)
Major hub41.3M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 26% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Waco runs 26% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
414.4
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,798.7
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Waco Police Department
Natural DisastersDrought most common — 21 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
91.2 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
McLennan County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In McLennan County, which includes Waco, the most common type is drought, with 21 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 21 | Hail | $258,000 |
| 2024 | 32 | Heat | $577,000 |
| 2023 | 35 | Drought | $7.5M |
| 2022 | 25 | Drought | $1,000 |
| 2021 | 24 | Heat | $2.8M |
| 2020 | 17 | Heat | $128,000 |
| 2019 | 14 | Heat | $19,500 |
| 2018 | 14 | Drought | $35,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
2 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
McLennan County, county-wide
Air Quality51 median AQI — Moderate
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in McLennan County, which includes Waco, is typically moderate — acceptable for most people, but can affect those unusually sensitive to air pollution.
Median AQI
51
Good Days
170
per year
Moderate Days
192
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
McLennan County, county-wide
Climate93°F summers, 38°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Waco has hot summers (avg high 93°F) and mild winters (avg low 38°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
76°/55°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
93°/74°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
79°/57°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
60°/38°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
38.7"
Annual Snowfall
0.0"
Hot Days/Year
108
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
38
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
78
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 59°F | 36°F | 2.72" |
| Feb | 62°F | 40°F | 2.69" |
| Mar | 68°F | 48°F | 3.51" |
| Apr | 76°F | 54°F | 3.16" |
| May | 83°F | 64°F | 4.39" |
| Jun | 91°F | 72°F | 3.61" |
| Jul | 95°F | 75°F | 1.85" |
| Aug | 95°F | 75°F | 2.44" |
| Sep | 89°F | 68°F | 3.15" |
| Oct | 80°F | 57°F | 4.30" |
| Nov | 68°F | 46°F | 2.93" |
| Dec | 60°F | 39°F | 2.76" |
Healthcare3 hospitals, avg 3.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Waco
Waco has 3 hospitals, averaging 3.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating.
Hospitals
3
within city limits
Uninsured
15.2%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
3.0 / 5
Baylor Scott & White Medical Center Hillcrest
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Ascension Providence
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
- Main campus: Ascension Providence · 6901 Medical Parkway
- Hospital campus: DePaul Center · 301 Londonderry Dr, Waco
Oceans Behavioral Hospital of Waco
Psychiatric
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs. Campus locations © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Education14.2:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Waco
Waco's student/teacher ratio is 14.2:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 28.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
42
within city limits
Private Schools
9
within city limits
College Degree Rate
28.7%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.2:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Waco
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 14,785 students · in-state tuition $63,620 · 80% graduate · median earnings $72,408 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 5,668 students · in-state tuition $3,660 · 25% graduate · median earnings $42,245 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Waco Mammoth National Monument, 3 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Waco
Waco has 1 nearby national park or recreation area, closest being Waco Mammoth National Monument (3 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Waco Mammoth National Monument
National Monument
3 mi awayPublic Libraries in Waco
Waco-Mclennan County Library
1717 Austin Ave, Waco
East Waco Library
901 Elm St, Waco
South Waco Library
2737 S 18th St, Waco
West Waco Library & Genealogy Center
5301 Bosque Blvd, Waco
Cities Near Waco
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Waco?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Waco FAQ
Is Waco, Texas affordable?⌄
Waco's median rent is $1,165/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $54,365/year. Median home value is $221,700.
Is Waco, Texas safe?⌄
Waco's violent crime rate was 414 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1799 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Waco, Texas?⌄
Waco has an unemployment rate of 4.1%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Waco, Texas?⌄
The cost of living in Waco is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,165/month and median household income is $54,365/year. The median home value is $221,700. About 55% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Waco, Texas?⌄
The average commute in Waco is 19 minutes, which is shorter than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from