Head-to-Head · City Comparison
League City, TX
VS
Waco, TX
🏆 League City leads 13 of 23 categories
League City
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$117,316 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
27 ✓ Safer
Population
113,469
Waco
Texas
10
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.
League City, TX
Pros
Households earn $69,895 more per year on average
76% less violent crime than Waco
Violent crime is well below the national average (103.5 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 48.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 64°F vs 59°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $312,500
Higher rents — median is $1,598/mo
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Waco
Longer commutes — 29.5 min average each way
Waco, TX
Pros
Homes cost $138k less ($174,100 vs $312,500)
Rent averages $560/mo less ($1,038 vs $1,598)
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
9% cheaper overall cost of living than League City
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
Smaller class sizes — 14.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails League City by $69,895/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
League City
Median Income
$69,895
$117,316 vs $47,421/yr
League City
Violent Crime
76% lower
103.5 vs 425.9 per 100k
Waco
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 100.2 (100 = US avg)
Waco
Median Home Value
$138k less
$174,100 vs $312,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | League City, TX | Waco, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.2⚠ High | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $312,500⚠ High | $174,100 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,598⚠ High | $1,038 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $117,316 ✓ Higher | $47,421 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.5 min⚠ High | 17.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.4% ✓ Higher | 7.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 38 ✓ Safer | 108⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 27 ✓ Safer | 112⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 55 ✓ Safer | 101⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) ✓ Better | B- (96) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.1:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.1% ✓ Higher | 27.9% |
| High School or Higher | 95.7% ✓ Higher | 85.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | CLEAR CREEK ISD | WACO ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 63.8°F ✓ Warmer | 58.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.8°F | 94.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 58.4" | 38.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 113,469 | 140,545 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.1 ✓ Older | 28.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 73.5% ✓ Higher | 47.3% |
| Under 18 | 26.6% ✓ More | 23.2% |
| Over 65 | 11.5% | 12.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
League City's cost of living index is 100.2 vs Waco's 90.8 (US average = 100).
Waco is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, League City leads 13 of 23 categories. League City wins 13 and Waco wins 10. 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 League City to Waco or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($312,500 vs $174,100 median home), income ($117,316 vs $47,421), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
League City, TX and Waco, TX are about 189 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.