Waco, TX
Census place 4876000 · pop 143,570
Birthplace of Dr Pepper and home to Baylor University; site of the deadly 1993 Branch Davidian siege nearby.
Source ↗Sales & income are statewide.
The breakdown — worst first
U.S. median 9.3% · worse than most cities
20.4% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.
U.S. median 0.43 · worse than most cities
Gini 0.51 (0 = equal, 1 = unequal) · Gini index of household income (0 = equal, 1 = unequal).
U.S. median 17.4% · worse than most cities
20.4% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).
U.S. median 12.1% · worse than most cities
23.1% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.
U.S. median 67.2% · worse than most cities
49.4% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.
U.S. median 42 AQI · worse than most cities
53 median AQI · Median air quality index — lower is cleaner air. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median $67,857 · worse than most cities
$54,365 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.
U.S. median 26.5% · worse than most cities
31.4% of adults · Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.
U.S. median 0.99% · worse than most cities
1.60% of home value paid in property tax · Median real-estate taxes paid as a share of home value.
U.S. median 90.0% · worse than most cities
88.9% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
U.S. median 14.6% · worse than most cities
15.1% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.
U.S. median 1 days · worse than most cities
5 unhealthy-air days per year · Days per year with unhealthy air (AQI above 100). Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median 36.5% · worse than most cities
36.8% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).
U.S. median 77/100 · worse than most cities
90/100 FEMA risk (higher = riskier) · FEMA National Risk Index — wildfire, flood, earthquake, heat and more. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median 24.3% · worse than most cities
28.7% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.
U.S. median 3.6% · better than most cities
3.4% unemployment · Share of the labor force out of work. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median $214,900 · better than most cities
$221,700 median home value · Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.
U.S. median +2.4% · better than most cities
+5.7% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?
U.S. median $1,756/mo · better than most cities
$1,342/mo typical rent · Typical monthly rent (Zillow Observed Rent Index, all home types).
U.S. median 24 min · better than most cities
19 min average one-way commute · Average one-way commute to work, in minutes.
Not measured for Waco: Crime, Property crime. Not every public source covers every city — EPA air monitors and Zillow rent only reach some places, and national crime data is still being added.
Frequently asked
- Is Waco, TX a good place to live?
- By the numbers, Waco scores 41/100 — a D− (Rough) on Shcity, which ranks U.S. cities on public data across 20 metrics like crime, cost, jobs and health. Its strongest area is commute time and its weakest is uninsured adults. Texas overall ranks #38 of 50 states. Whether it's "good" depends on what you value — re-weight the factors to score it your way.
- Is Waco, TX expensive to live in?
- Waco has a median home value of $221,700 and typical rent around $1,342/mo — more affordable than most U.S. cities.
- What's the biggest downside of living in Waco, TX?
- Its weakest measured area is uninsured adults (20.4%) — 7/100, worse than most U.S. cities.
- What is Waco, TX best at?
- Its strongest measured area is commute time (19 min) — 83/100, better than most U.S. cities. Fun fact: Birthplace of Dr Pepper and home to Baylor University; site of the deadly 1993 Branch Davidian siege nearby.
Sources: U.S. Census (ACS), CDC PLACES, FBI Crime Data Explorer, BLS, EPA AirData, FEMA National Risk Index, and Zillow.