Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Gainesville, FL
VS
Waco, TX
🏆 Waco leads 16 of 22 categories
Gainesville
Florida
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.9
Median Household Income
$43,783
Violent Crime Index
194⚠ High
Population
142,414 ✓ Larger
Waco
Texas
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$47,421 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
140,545
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Gainesville, FL
Pros
More college-educated — 50.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 59°F
Cons
Violent crime (738.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2703.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.5% vs 4.5%)
Median income trails Waco by $3,638/yr
Waco, TX
Pros
42% less violent crime than Gainesville
Homes cost $43k less ($174,100 vs $216,600)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (4.5%)
Rent averages $113/mo less ($1,038 vs $1,151)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
Households earn $3,638 more per year on average
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Waco
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 96.9 (100 = US avg)
Waco
Median Income
$3,638
$47,421 vs $43,783/yr
Waco
Violent Crime
42% lower
425.9 vs 738.0 per 100k
Waco
Median Home Value
$43k less
$174,100 vs $216,600
Waco
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
4.5% vs 5.5% unemployment
Waco
Summer Heat
3.4°F warmer
July avg high 94.5°F vs 91.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Gainesville, FL | Waco, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.9 | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $216,600 | $174,100 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,151 | $1,038 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $43,783 | $47,421 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.8 min | 17.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.8% ✓ Higher | 7.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 168⚠ High | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 194⚠ High | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High | 101⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (111) ✓ Better | B- (96) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.2:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 50.0% ✓ Higher | 27.9% |
| High School or Higher | 93.6% ✓ Higher | 85.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALACHUA | WACO ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.1°F ✓ Warmer | 58.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.1°F | 94.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.6" | 38.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 142,414 ✓ Larger | 140,545 |
| Median Age | 26.0 | 28.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 38.5% | 47.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 13.6% | 23.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.1% | 12.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Gainesville's cost of living index is 96.9 vs Waco's 90.8 (US average = 100).
Waco is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Waco leads 16 of 22 categories. Gainesville wins 6 and Waco wins 16. 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 Gainesville to Waco or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($216,600 vs $174,100 median home), income ($43,783 vs $47,421), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Gainesville, FL and Waco, TX are about 892 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.