Houston, TX vs Waco, TX
Side-by-side comparison of housing, income, commute, safety, and quality of life.
Score Snapshot
No universal winner
Scores summarize the published model. Use the objective metric differences below and your own priorities to choose.
Houston
72.1
#926 nationally
Waco
77.1
#281 nationally
Waco leads in average commute (17.5 min vs 28.5 min). Houston leads in walk score (48 vs 35). Houston leads in median household income ($57,791 vs $47,421).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Houston, TX | Waco, TX |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 72.1 (#926) | 77.1 (#281) |
| Population | 2,314,157 | 144,816 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $263,563 | $197,359 |
| Median Household Income | $57,791 | $47,421 |
| Average Commute | 28.5 min | 17.5 min |
| Walk Score | 48 | 35 |
| Crime Level | Moderate-High | 11.7 |
| School Rating | 5.5 | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 96 | 93 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+5.5 | R+30.9 |
C-
72.1 Score
Houston, TX
Space City with global energy
Median Home
$263,563
Population
2,314,157
Crime
Moderate-High
Schools
C
Southwest
View Houston, TX →
C+
77.1 Score
Waco, TX
Mid-size Texas city with community character
Median Home
$197,359
Population
144,816
Crime
Moderate-High
Walk Score
35
Southwest
View Waco, TX →