Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Los Angeles, CA
VS
Waco, TX
🏆 Waco leads 13 of 22 categories
Los Angeles
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,244 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
192⚠ High
Population
3,881,041 ✓ Larger
Waco
Texas
13
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.
Los Angeles, CA
Pros
Households earn $28,823 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 78°F vs 95°F
More college-educated — 36.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 59°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $822,600
Higher rents — median is $1,791/mo
Violent crime (728.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 25% higher than Waco
Waco, TX
Pros
Homes cost $649k less ($174,100 vs $822,600)
Rent averages $753/mo less ($1,038 vs $1,791)
42% less violent crime than Los Angeles
25% cheaper overall cost of living than Los Angeles
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.2 pts lower (4.5%)
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Los Angeles by $28,823/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Los Angeles
Median Income
$28,823
$76,244 vs $47,421/yr
Waco
Cost of Living
25% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Waco
Violent Crime
42% lower
425.9 vs 728.5 per 100k
Waco
Median Home Value
$649k less
$174,100 vs $822,600
Waco
Unemployment
3.2 pp lower
4.5% vs 7.7% unemployment
Waco
Summer Heat
16.5°F warmer
July avg high 94.5°F vs 78.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Los Angeles, CA | Waco, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $822,600⚠ High | $174,100 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,791⚠ High | $1,038 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $76,244 ✓ Higher | $47,421 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.7%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 17.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 15.1% ✓ Higher | 7.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 143⚠ High | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 192⚠ High | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 ✓ Safer | 101⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B- (96) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.7% ✓ Higher | 27.9% |
| High School or Higher | 78.7% | 85.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Los Angeles Unified | WACO ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.6°F ✓ Warmer | 58.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 78.0°F | 94.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.1" ✓ Drier | 38.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 3,881,041 ✓ Larger | 140,545 |
| Median Age | 36.5 ✓ Older | 28.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 36.6% | 47.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.7% | 23.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.4% ✓ More | 12.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Los Angeles's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Waco's 90.8 (US average = 100).
Waco is 25% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Waco leads 13 of 22 categories. Los Angeles wins 9 and Waco wins 13. 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 Los Angeles to Waco or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($822,600 vs $174,100 median home), income ($76,244 vs $47,421), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Los Angeles, CA and Waco, TX are about 1,242 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.