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Waco, TX

Photo: Wikipedia

Waco, TX

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Demographics

DiverseSimpson's Diversity Index: 67
Population141,925
Foreign Born7.3%
Population Density1,559people per mi²
Median Age29.2 yrs
Demographics Trajectory
GrowingSince 2010, this city's population has grown with relatively minor shifts in racial composition.
Current Race / Ethnicity Breakdown
Population Trends

Quality of Life

Overall Quality Of Life
A-
Great

A high quality of life with strong walkability, manageable living costs, healthy neighborhood signals, and solid amenity access.

Quality of Life blends cost of living, nearby amenities, socioeconomic signals, and neighborhood character. City-level scores represent the whole municipality; individual neighborhoods can differ.

Cost of Living

85/100

15% below national average

A+

The Real Cost of Living in Waco, Texas

TierIndividualFamily (4)
Survival $18k$33k
Comfortable $39k$57k
Luxury $93k+$144k+
Elite (Top 5%) $128k+$199k+
Affordability Ratio

90%

The Hood Index™

A metric tracking the socioeconomic signals of the area.

A+
Hood Index scan area
Luxury Lean96%
RisksNeutralGrowth
Premium
40
Positive
40
Poor
3
Negative
2

Groceries

5 within 10 miles

2.4mi

Gas

0 within 10 miles

Hospital

3 within 20 miles

3.7mi

Airport

Providence Health Center Heliport

5.2mi

Post Office

USPS — Waco, TX

5.1mi

Critical Amenities

Country Clubs

1 private club within 10 miles.

Golf2Nearest 4 mi
Camping20Nearest 25.2 mi
Marina7Nearest 1.1 mi
Winery0 
Ice Rink0Nearest 87.8 mi
Gun Range3Nearest 8.8 mi

Affluence Level

Overall Affluence Grade
D+
Soft

A below-average socioeconomic profile. Incomes, home values, and educational attainment trail the U.S., with higher poverty and unemployment.

Median HHI
$51k+8.5%
32% below US avg
Est. Avg Net Worth
$400k
39% below US avg
College Educated
28.6%
18% below US avg
WFH
8.5%
41% below US avg
Homeownership
48.9%
25% below US avg
Median Home
$200k
29% below US avg

Crime

Overall Crime Grade
C
Moderate

Crime rates similar to the national median for U.S. locations.

Crime Rate
22.0
Incidents per 1,000 residents
5yr Trend
−44.8%
Overall crime change since 2020

Violent Crime

5yr−43.0%
Homicide
0.05 / 1k Residents20% above state avg
Robbery
0.47 / 1k Residents10% below state avg
Aggravated Assault
2.65 / 1k Residents11% above state avg

Property Crime

5yr−46.5%
Burglary
2.84 / 1k Residents16% above state avg
Larceny-Theft
13.27 / 1k Residents4% above state avg
Motor Vehicle Theft
1.74 / 1k Residents30% below state avg
Source: FBI Crime Data · 2025

Political Climate

Cook PVI: R+14Leans Conservative

District shown is the primary district for this city’s centroid. Cities may span multiple districts.

Presidential Voting Trends for Waco, Texas
Dem Rep
30%40%50%60%70%2000200420082012201620202024

Personal Sovereignty

Personal Sovereignty measures your capacity for self-reliance and independence with minimal government friction. Higher scores mean fewer barriers between you and the way you want to live... but it assumes you have the space you need and good neighbors.

Overall Sovereignty Grade
A-
High Autonomy

Strong independent fundamentals that actively favor personal liberty and low regulation.

State Policy

Tax Burden
B
Fair8.6% of income
Property Rights
C+
FairIJ Grade C+
Firearm Rights
A
GreatFPC Grade A
Homeschooling
A+
GreatNo notice required

Energy independence: Net exporter (220% of energy produced in-state)

Personal Liberty

Raw Milk
A-
OpenFarm sales legal
Gambling Laws
D+
RestrictedTribal · Poker · Betting
Marijuana Laws
C+
LimitedMedical only

Homesteading

Growing Season280 days352 frost-free
Annual Rainfall42.8"
Elevation413 ft

Strategic Assessment

Strategic Assessment grades tactical survivability using Joel Skousen's Strategic Relocation framework. Major population centers, blast zones, natural disasters, and border exposure all drive risk — lower exposure means a more defensible position in a crisis.

Learn more about Strategic Relocation ($)
Overall Strategic Grade
C
Exposed

Meaningful friction. Expect exposure to either population pressure, blast zones, or natural disaster risk. Consider buying a retreat property.

Strategic Pillars

City Proximity
C
Weak86 mi to nearest major city
Pop. Density
C-
Weak1,559/sq mi
Fallout Danger
B
Fair3 within ~30 mi
Natural Disaster
F
PoorInland Flooding
Border / Coast
A+
Greatborder 268 mi · coast 179 mi
FEMA Expected Loss$84.5M/yrfor the county

Key Distances

Nearest Major CityArlington394k people are 81 mi away
Nearest Major AirportNo hub airport within 50 mi
Distance to State Capital96 miAustin, TX
Nearest Prison17 mi2 within 25 mi

* Values derived from national, state, county, city and local statistics and may differ in a specific area. Last updated: 2026-04-19T07:27:14.000Z

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