Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chula Vista, CA
VS
Waco, TX
🏆 Chula Vista leads 13 of 22 categories
Chula Vista
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$101,984 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
99 ✓ Safer
Population
276,103 ✓ Larger
Waco
Texas
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$47,421
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High
Population
140,545
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chula Vista, CA
Pros
Households earn $54,563 more per year on average
12% less violent crime than Waco
Cooler summers — July highs near 75°F vs 95°F
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 59°F
More college-educated — 31.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $647,100
Higher rents — median is $2,035/mo
Cost of living runs 21% higher than Waco
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Waco, TX
Pros
Homes cost $473k less ($174,100 vs $647,100)
Rent averages $997/mo less ($1,038 vs $2,035)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.3 pts lower (4.5%)
21% cheaper overall cost of living than Chula Vista
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
Cons
Median income trails Chula Vista by $54,563/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Chula Vista
Median Income
$54,563
$101,984 vs $47,421/yr
Chula Vista
Violent Crime
12% lower
375.8 vs 425.9 per 100k
Waco
Cost of Living
21% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
Waco
Median Home Value
$473k less
$174,100 vs $647,100
Waco
Unemployment
4.3 pp lower
4.5% vs 8.8% unemployment
Waco
Summer Heat
19.9°F warmer
July avg high 94.5°F vs 74.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chula Vista, CA | Waco, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.5⚠ High | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $647,100⚠ High | $174,100 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,035⚠ High | $1,038 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $101,984 ✓ Higher | $47,421 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.8%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.1 min⚠ High | 17.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.2% ✓ Higher | 7.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 81 ✓ Safer | 108⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 99 ✓ Safer | 112⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 54 ✓ Safer | 101⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (80) | B- (96) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.0:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.2% ✓ Higher | 27.9% |
| High School or Higher | 85.3% ✓ Higher | 85.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Chula Vista Elementary | WACO ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.5°F ✓ Warmer | 58.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 74.6°F | 94.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.0" ✓ Drier | 38.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 276,103 ✓ Larger | 140,545 |
| Median Age | 36.1 ✓ Older | 28.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.9% ✓ Higher | 47.3% |
| Under 18 | 24.7% ✓ More | 23.2% |
| Over 65 | 12.2% | 12.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chula Vista's cost of living index is 111.5 vs Waco's 90.8 (US average = 100).
Waco is 21% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Chula Vista leads 13 of 22 categories. Chula Vista wins 13 and Waco wins 9. 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 Chula Vista to Waco or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($647,100 vs $174,100 median home), income ($101,984 vs $47,421), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chula Vista, CA and Waco, TX are about 1,161 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.