Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lakewood, CO
VS
Waco, TX
🏆 Waco leads 12 of 23 categories
Lakewood
Colorado
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$82,786 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
207⚠ High
Population
156,149 ✓ Larger
Waco
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$47,421
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.
Lakewood, CO
Pros
Households earn $35,365 more per year on average
More college-educated — 44.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 95°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $494,100
Higher rents — median is $1,665/mo
Violent crime (787.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Waco
Waco, TX
Pros
Homes cost $320k less ($174,100 vs $494,100)
Rent averages $627/mo less ($1,038 vs $1,665)
46% less violent crime than Lakewood
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Lakewood
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 45°F
Cons
Median income trails Lakewood by $35,365/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Lakewood
Median Income
$35,365
$82,786 vs $47,421/yr
Waco
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Waco
Violent Crime
46% lower
425.9 vs 787.2 per 100k
Waco
Median Home Value
$320k less
$174,100 vs $494,100
Waco
Summer Heat
8.6°F warmer
July avg high 94.5°F vs 85.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lakewood, CO | Waco, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $494,100⚠ High | $174,100 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,665⚠ High | $1,038 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $82,786 ✓ Higher | $47,421 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.0 min | 17.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.9% ✓ Higher | 7.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 221⚠ High | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 207⚠ High | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 243⚠ High | 101⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | B- (96) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.7:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.4% ✓ Higher | 27.9% |
| High School or Higher | 93.1% ✓ Higher | 85.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jefferson County School District No. R-1 | WACO ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.8°F | 58.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.9°F | 94.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.8" ✓ Drier | 38.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 58.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 156,149 ✓ Larger | 140,545 |
| Median Age | 38.1 ✓ Older | 28.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.0% ✓ Higher | 47.3% |
| Under 18 | 16.8% | 23.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.4% ✓ More | 12.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lakewood's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Waco's 90.8 (US average = 100).
Waco is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Waco leads 12 of 23 categories. Lakewood wins 11 and Waco wins 12. 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 Lakewood to Waco or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($494,100 vs $174,100 median home), income ($82,786 vs $47,421), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lakewood, CO and Waco, TX are about 716 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.