Head-to-Head · City Comparison
High Point, NC
VS
Waco, TX
🏆 Waco leads 14 of 23 categories
High Point
North Carolina
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.7
Median Household Income
$58,582 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
120⚠ High
Population
114,120
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.
High Point, NC
Pros
Households earn $11,161 more per year on average
More college-educated — 34.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.7)
Cooler summers — July highs near 89°F vs 95°F
Cons
Violent crime (454.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2456.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.2% vs 4.5%)
Waco, TX
Pros
6% less violent crime than High Point
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (4.5%)
Homes cost $22k less ($174,100 vs $196,500)
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 52°F
Cons
Median income trails High Point by $11,161/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
High Point
Median Income
$11,161
$58,582 vs $47,421/yr
Waco
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 92.7 (100 = US avg)
Waco
Violent Crime
6% lower
425.9 vs 454.8 per 100k
Waco
Median Home Value
$22k less
$174,100 vs $196,500
Waco
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
4.5% vs 6.2% unemployment
Waco
Summer Heat
5.1°F warmer
July avg high 94.5°F vs 89.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | High Point, NC | Waco, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.7 | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $196,500 | $174,100 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,030 ✓ Lower | $1,038 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,582 ✓ Higher | $47,421 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.7 min | 17.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.0% ✓ 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 | 120⚠ High | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 117⚠ High | 101⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) ✓ Better | B- (96) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.4% ✓ Higher | 27.9% |
| High School or Higher | 86.4% ✓ Higher | 85.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Guilford County Schools | WACO ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.7°F | 58.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.4°F | 94.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 48.3" | 38.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.9" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,120 | 140,545 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.7 ✓ Older | 28.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.1% ✓ Higher | 47.3% |
| Under 18 | 22.5% | 23.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.7% ✓ More | 12.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
High Point's cost of living index is 92.7 vs Waco's 90.8 (US average = 100).
Waco is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Waco leads 14 of 23 categories. High Point wins 9 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 High Point to Waco or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($196,500 vs $174,100 median home), income ($58,582 vs $47,421), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
High Point, NC and Waco, TX are about 1,032 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.