Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government, KY
VS
Waco, TX
🏆 Waco leads 13 of 23 categories
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government
Kentucky
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.0
Median Household Income
$63,114 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
186⚠ High
Population
629,176 ✓ 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.
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government, KY
Pros
Households earn $15,693 more per year on average
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.0)
More college-educated — 32.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 95°F
Cons
Violent crime (707.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3326.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.3% vs 4.5%)
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Waco
Waco, TX
Pros
40% less violent crime than Louisville/Jefferson County metro government
Homes cost $31k less ($174,100 vs $204,800)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (4.5%)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 42°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
Cons
Median income trails Louisville/Jefferson County metro government by $15,693/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government
Median Income
$15,693
$63,114 vs $47,421/yr
Waco
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 94.0 (100 = US avg)
Waco
Violent Crime
40% lower
425.9 vs 707.4 per 100k
Waco
Median Home Value
$31k less
$174,100 vs $204,800
Waco
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
4.5% vs 5.3% unemployment
Waco
Summer Heat
7.2°F warmer
July avg high 94.5°F vs 87.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Louisville/Jefferson County metro government, KY | Waco, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.0 | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $204,800 | $174,100 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,014 ✓ Lower | $1,038 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,114 ✓ Higher | $47,421 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.6 min | 17.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.1% ✓ Higher | 7.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 175⚠ High | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 186⚠ High | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 158⚠ High | 101⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) ✓ Better | B- (96) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.2:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.9% ✓ Higher | 27.9% |
| High School or Higher | 90.3% ✓ Higher | 85.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jefferson County | WACO ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 42.4°F | 58.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F | 94.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 53.1" | 38.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 15.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 629,176 ✓ Larger | 140,545 |
| Median Age | 37.9 ✓ Older | 28.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.4% ✓ Higher | 47.3% |
| Under 18 | 22.1% | 23.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.8% ✓ More | 12.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government's cost of living index is 94.0 vs Waco's 90.8 (US average = 100).
Waco is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Waco leads 13 of 23 categories. Louisville/Jefferson County metro government wins 10 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 Louisville/Jefferson County metro government to Waco or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($204,800 vs $174,100 median home), income ($63,114 vs $47,421), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government, KY and Waco, TX are about 797 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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