Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Centennial, CO
VS
Waco, TX
🏆 Centennial leads 13 of 23 categories
Centennial
Colorado
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$124,617 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
45 ✓ Safer
Population
107,702
Waco
Texas
10
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.
Centennial, CO
Pros
Households earn $77,196 more per year on average
59% less violent crime than Waco
More college-educated — 61.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (172.8 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (3.4%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 95°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $586,500
Higher rents — median is $1,949/mo
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Waco
Snowy winters — about 64" of snow per year
Waco, TX
Pros
Homes cost $412k less ($174,100 vs $586,500)
Rent averages $911/mo less ($1,038 vs $1,949)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Centennial
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 45°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
Cons
Median income trails Centennial by $77,196/yr
Higher unemployment (4.5% vs 3.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Centennial
Median Income
$77,196
$124,617 vs $47,421/yr
Centennial
Violent Crime
59% lower
172.8 vs 425.9 per 100k
Centennial
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
3.4% vs 4.5% unemployment
Waco
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Waco
Median Home Value
$412k less
$174,100 vs $586,500
Waco
Summer Heat
7.2°F warmer
July avg high 94.5°F vs 87.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Centennial, CO | Waco, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $586,500⚠ High | $174,100 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,949⚠ High | $1,038 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $124,617 ✓ Higher | $47,421 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% ✓ Lower | 4.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.0 min | 17.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 21.2% ✓ Higher | 7.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 60 ✓ Safer | 108⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 45 ✓ Safer | 112⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 81 ✓ Safer | 101⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | B- (96) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.2:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 61.3% ✓ Higher | 27.9% |
| High School or Higher | 97.4% ✓ Higher | 85.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cherry Creek School District No. 5 in the county of Arapah | WACO ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.6°F | 58.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F | 94.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.0" ✓ Drier | 38.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 64.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 107,702 | 140,545 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.6 ✓ Older | 28.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 82.3% ✓ Higher | 47.3% |
| Under 18 | 22.5% | 23.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.9% ✓ More | 12.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Centennial's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Waco's 90.8 (US average = 100).
Waco is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Centennial leads 13 of 23 categories. Centennial wins 13 and Waco wins 10. 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 Centennial to Waco or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($586,500 vs $174,100 median home), income ($124,617 vs $47,421), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Centennial, CO and Waco, TX are about 702 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.