Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Irving, TX
VS
Waco, TX
🏆 Irving leads 12 of 23 categories
Irving
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,686 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
254,962 ✓ Larger
Waco
Texas
11
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.
Irving, TX
Pros
Households earn $29,265 more per year on average
35% less violent crime than Waco
More college-educated — 40.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,423/mo
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Waco
Waco, TX
Pros
Homes cost $85k less ($174,100 vs $259,500)
Rent averages $385/mo less ($1,038 vs $1,423)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Irving
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
Cons
Median income trails Irving by $29,265/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Irving
Median Income
$29,265
$76,686 vs $47,421/yr
Irving
Violent Crime
35% lower
275.4 vs 425.9 per 100k
Waco
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Waco
Median Home Value
$85k less
$174,100 vs $259,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Irving, TX | Waco, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $259,500 | $174,100 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,423⚠ High | $1,038 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $76,686 ✓ Higher | $47,421 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.8 min | 17.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 14.0% ✓ Higher | 7.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 ✓ Safer | 108⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 112⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 105⚠ High | 101⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (109) ✓ Better | B- (96) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.5:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.5% ✓ Higher | 27.9% |
| High School or Higher | 79.7% | 85.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | IRVING ISD | WACO ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.5°F | 58.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.6°F ✓ Warmer | 94.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 37.0" ✓ Drier | 38.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 254,962 ✓ Larger | 140,545 |
| Median Age | 32.4 ✓ Older | 28.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 37.2% | 47.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 26.4% ✓ More | 23.2% |
| Over 65 | 8.3% | 12.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Irving's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Waco's 90.8 (US average = 100).
Waco is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Irving leads 12 of 23 categories. Irving wins 12 and Waco wins 11. 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 Irving to Waco or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($259,500 vs $174,100 median home), income ($76,686 vs $47,421), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Irving, TX and Waco, TX are about 91 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.