Head-to-Head · City Comparison
El Monte, CA
VS
Waco, TX
🏆 Waco leads 14 of 22 categories
El Monte
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$59,929 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
108,682
Waco
Texas
14
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.
El Monte, CA
Pros
Households earn $12,508 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 59°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 95°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $597,200
Higher rents — median is $1,605/mo
Cost of living runs 25% higher than Waco
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Waco, TX
Pros
Homes cost $423k less ($174,100 vs $597,200)
Rent averages $567/mo less ($1,038 vs $1,605)
25% cheaper overall cost of living than El Monte
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (4.5%)
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 27.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails El Monte by $12,508/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
El Monte
Median Income
$12,508
$59,929 vs $47,421/yr
Waco
Cost of Living
25% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Waco
Median Home Value
$423k less
$174,100 vs $597,200
Waco
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
4.5% vs 7.0% unemployment
Waco
Summer Heat
9.0°F warmer
July avg high 94.5°F vs 85.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | El Monte, CA | Waco, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $597,200⚠ High | $174,100 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,605⚠ High | $1,038 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,929 ✓ Higher | $47,421 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.0%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.3 min⚠ High | 17.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% | 7.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 106⚠ High ✓ Safer | 108⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer | 112⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 98 ✓ Safer | 101⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (66) | B- (96) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 13.7% | 27.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 63.9% | 85.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Mountain View Elementary | WACO ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.6°F ✓ Warmer | 58.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 85.5°F | 94.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.7" ✓ Drier | 38.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 108,682 | 140,545 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 28.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.6% | 47.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.4% | 23.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.6% ✓ More | 12.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
El Monte's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Waco's 90.8 (US average = 100).
Waco is 25% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Waco leads 14 of 22 categories. El Monte 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 El Monte to Waco or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($597,200 vs $174,100 median home), income ($59,929 vs $47,421), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
El Monte, CA and Waco, TX are about 1,220 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.