Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arden-Arcade, CA
VS
Waco, TX
🏆 Waco leads 14 of 22 categories
Arden-Arcade
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,479 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
136⚠ High
Population
96,076
Waco
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$47,421
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
140,545 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Arden-Arcade, CA
Pros
Households earn $17,058 more per year on average
More college-educated — 36.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $466,300
Higher rents — median is $1,385/mo
Violent crime (518.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Waco
Waco, TX
Pros
Homes cost $292k less ($174,100 vs $466,300)
Rent averages $347/mo less ($1,038 vs $1,385)
18% less violent crime than Arden-Arcade
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.6 pts lower (4.5%)
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Arden-Arcade
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Arden-Arcade by $17,058/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Arden-Arcade
Median Income
$17,058
$64,479 vs $47,421/yr
Waco
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 108.9 (100 = US avg)
Waco
Violent Crime
18% lower
425.9 vs 518.1 per 100k
Waco
Median Home Value
$292k less
$174,100 vs $466,300
Waco
Unemployment
3.6 pp lower
4.5% vs 8.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arden-Arcade, CA | Waco, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.9⚠ High | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $466,300⚠ High | $174,100 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,385⚠ High | $1,038 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,479 ✓ Higher | $47,421 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.1%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.4 min | 17.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.9% ✓ Higher | 7.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 119⚠ High | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 101⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B- (96) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.6:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.3% ✓ Higher | 27.9% |
| High School or Higher | 88.9% ✓ Higher | 85.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | San Juan Unified | WACO ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.5°F | 58.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.4°F | 94.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 21.5" ✓ Drier | 38.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 96,076 | 140,545 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.0 ✓ Older | 28.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.9% | 47.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.8% | 23.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.6% ✓ More | 12.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arden-Arcade's cost of living index is 108.9 vs Waco's 90.8 (US average = 100).
Waco is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Waco leads 14 of 22 categories. Arden-Arcade wins 8 and Waco wins 14. 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 Arden-Arcade to Waco or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($466,300 vs $174,100 median home), income ($64,479 vs $47,421), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arden-Arcade, CA and Waco, TX are about 1,447 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.