What are the schools like in Waco, NC?

School district data for Waco is sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES).

What is the median household income in Waco?

The median household income in Waco, NC is $41,875 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 1.9%.

What is the weather like in Waco, NC?

Waco has an average high temperature of 52.6°F in January and 90.6°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 47.1 inches and annual snowfall averages 4.0 inches.

Waco, NC Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Waco, NC affordable or expensive?

Waco's cost of living index is 90, where 100 represents the national average. This means Waco is 10% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $97,700 and the median rent is $892 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Waco, NC?

Waco has a violent crime rate of 500.3 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1466.1 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Waco, NC a Good Place to Live?

Waco is a small town of 278 in North Carolina, with a median household income of $41,875 and a 1.9% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 90 (US average = 100), which is 10% below the national average.

Strengths: Waco stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Waco is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Waco city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 89.5

Waco's overall cost of living index is 89.5, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Waco costs roughly 10% less than the average American city.

Metric	Waco, NC	National Avg
Median Home Value	$97,700	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$892	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	81.9%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$41,875	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Near National Average

Waco's violent crime rate is 500.3 per 100,000 residents — 32% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

500.3 /100k

Property Crime

1466.1 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Metric	Waco, NC	National Avg
School District	N/A	—
Elementary Schools	N/A	—
Middle Schools	N/A	—
High Schools	N/A	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	N/A	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	15.3%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	84.3%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Waco sees average highs of 52.6°F in January and 90.6°F in July, with 47.1 inches of annual precipitation and 4.0 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Waco, NC
Average High — January	52.6°F
Average High — July	90.6°F
Annual Precipitation	47.1"
Annual Snowfall	4.0"

Demographics

Metric	Waco, NC	National Avg
Population	278	—
Median Age	52.7	38.9
Unemployment Rate	1.9%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	22.4 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	92.8%	59.3%
Black or African American	6.8%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	0.4%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	14.4%	22.2%
65 and over	32.4%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Dellview, NC 2 mi Cherryville, NC 3 mi Light Oak, NC 6 mi Fallston, NC 6 mi Shelby, NC 8 mi

ZIP Codes in Waco

Waco, NC is covered by 1 ZIP code:

28169

Waco vs Other Cities

Waco, NC vs Dellview, NC Waco, NC vs Cherryville, NC Waco, NC vs Light Oak, NC Waco, NC vs Fallston, NC Waco, NC vs Shelby, NC

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Waco, NC affordable or expensive?

Waco's cost of living index is 90, where 100 is the national average. That makes Waco roughly 10% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $97,700 and median rent is $892/month.

What is the crime rate in Waco, NC?

Waco's violent crime rate is 500.3 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1466.1 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Waco?

School district information is sourced from NCES Common Core of Data.

Is Waco, NC a good place to live?

Waco, NC has a population of 278, a median household income of $41,875, and an unemployment rate of 1.9%. It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Waco?

Waco averages 52.6°F in January and 90.6°F in July. Annual rainfall is 47.1 inches with about 4.0 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Waco?

Waco, NC is covered by 1 ZIP code: 28169.

What is the population of Waco?

The population of Waco, North Carolina is 278 with a median age of 52.7. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Waco?

Key numbers for living in Waco: cost of living index 90 (100 = US average), median home $97,700, median household income $41,875, crime index 107 (100 = US average, lower is safer). Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Waco side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.