Waco, TX vs Zachary, LA
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.
Waco
77.1
#281 nationally
Zachary
73.7
#694 nationally
Zachary leads in median household income ($88,811 vs $47,421). Waco leads in average commute (17.5 min vs 27.6 min). Zachary leads in crime level (9.1 vs 11.7).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Waco, TX | Zachary, LA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 77.1 (#281) | 73.7 (#694) |
| Population | 144,816 | 19,968 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $197,359 | $269,521 |
| Median Household Income | $47,421 | $88,811 |
| Average Commute | 17.5 min | 27.6 min |
| Walk Score | 35 | N/A |
| Crime Level | 11.7 | 9.1 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 93 | 107 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | R+30.9 | D+11.1 |
Data coverage note: Zachary is missing data for 1 metric that Waco has. Scores with less coverage are penalized — see our methodology.
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 →
C
73.7 Score
Zachary, LA
Small Louisiana city with local appeal
Median Home
$269,521
Population
19,968
Crime
Moderate
Median Income
$88,811
Southeast
View Zachary, LA →