Waco, TX Relocation Guide (2026)
Cost of living, housing, and income data for Waco, sourced from the US Census Bureau.
Salary needed to live in Waco →
Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022). Last updated July 2026.
Waco is a city of roughly 140,545 in Texas. The median household there earns $47,421 annually, which runs below the multi-city median income (-34%).
The typical home in Waco is worth $174,100, below the multi-city median (-47%), while the typical renter pays $1,038 a month. Either path — buying or renting — deserves a look at today's rates before deciding.
The home-value-to-income ratio in Waco — around 3.7× — falls into a middle tier, neither notably affordable nor notably stretched. The local market has seen 1.2% price growth over the past year — solid, sustainable movement rather than a rapid runup. FEMA rates Waco's overall natural-hazard risk as Relatively Moderate — comparatively low, which tends to keep home insurance costs in check.
Personal Affordability Check
Renting at $1,038/mo in Waco would take 26.3% of your income.
$148/mo under the 30% guideline.
Buying the median home ($174,100) would take 23.5% of your income toward principal & interest.
$177/mo under the 28% guideline.
Cost of housing in Waco
Median home value is $174,100 and median gross rent is $1,038/month. For buyers, monthly costs depend heavily on current mortgage rates — worth checking before you commit.
FHFA's county-level home price index for McLennan rose 1.2% over the past year (as of 2025).
HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom unit in the surrounding county is $1,240/month.
Climate & home insurance
FEMA rates Waco's overall natural-hazard risk as Relatively Moderate. Risk level is a major driver of home insurance premiums.
Safety
Waco reported a violent crime rate of 414.4 per 100,000 residents in 2025, per FBI data.
Moving to Waco
Planning a move to Waco? Compare licensed movers and get quotes based on your origin and move date.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the cost of living in Waco, TX?
- Cost of living in Waco centers on housing: median home value runs $174,100, median rent runs $1,038/month, and the typical household earns $47,421 a year. Data via the US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022).
- How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Waco?
- A common guideline is that rent should stay under 30% of gross income. With median rent at $1,038/month in Waco, that implies an income of about $41,520 to keep housing affordable. See the full salary breakdown (renting and buying) for Waco.
- Is it better to rent or buy in Waco?
- Comparing the two in Waco: renting at the median $1,038/month needs about $41,520 in annual income (30% guideline), while buying the $174,100 median home needs roughly $39,833 a year in principal-and-interest, assuming 20% down and a 30-year fixed loan at current rates.
- Is Waco safe?
- FBI data puts Waco's violent crime rate at 414.4 per 100,000 residents for 2025 — a useful benchmark alongside other cities you're weighing.
See the full salary breakdown for Waco →
Cities with a similar cost of living
Matched on median rent and household income within 15% of Waco's.
Median rent $1,045/mo · Median income $47,798
Salary breakdown →