Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Ann Arbor, MI
VS
Waco, TX
🏆 Waco leads 13 of 23 categories
Ann Arbor
Michigan
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0
Median Household Income
$78,546 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
80 ✓ Safer
Population
122,216
Waco
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$47,421
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High
Population
140,545 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Ann Arbor, MI
Pros
Households earn $31,125 more per year on average
More college-educated — 77.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
29% less violent crime than Waco
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (3.7%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 95°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $416,500
Higher rents — median is $1,472/mo
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Waco
Snowy winters — about 59" of snow per year
Waco, TX
Pros
Homes cost $242k less ($174,100 vs $416,500)
Rent averages $434/mo less ($1,038 vs $1,472)
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 32°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Ann Arbor
Cons
Median income trails Ann Arbor by $31,125/yr
Higher unemployment (4.5% vs 3.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Ann Arbor
Median Income
$31,125
$78,546 vs $47,421/yr
Ann Arbor
Violent Crime
29% lower
302.5 vs 425.9 per 100k
Ann Arbor
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
3.7% vs 4.5% unemployment
Waco
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 98.0 (100 = US avg)
Waco
Median Home Value
$242k less
$174,100 vs $416,500
Waco
Summer Heat
10.5°F warmer
July avg high 94.5°F vs 84.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Ann Arbor, MI | Waco, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $416,500⚠ High | $174,100 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,472⚠ High | $1,038 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,546 ✓ Higher | $47,421 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% ✓ Lower | 4.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.6 min | 17.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 23.2% ✓ Higher | 7.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 80 ✓ Safer | 108⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 ✓ Safer | 112⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 82 ✓ Safer | 101⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (119) ✓ Better | B- (96) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 77.5% ✓ Higher | 27.9% |
| High School or Higher | 97.8% ✓ Higher | 85.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Ann Arbor Public Schools | WACO ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.7°F | 58.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.0°F | 94.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.9" ✓ Drier | 38.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 59.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 122,216 | 140,545 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 27.4 | 28.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.0% | 47.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 12.2% | 23.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 12.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Ann Arbor's cost of living index is 98.0 vs Waco's 90.8 (US average = 100).
Waco is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Waco leads 13 of 23 categories. Ann Arbor wins 10 and Waco wins 13. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Ann Arbor to Waco or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($416,500 vs $174,100 median home), income ($78,546 vs $47,421), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Ann Arbor, MI and Waco, TX are about 1,047 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.