Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lynn, MA
VS
Waco, TX
🏆 Waco leads 15 of 22 categories
Lynn
Massachusetts
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$70,046 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
151⚠ High
Population
100,653
Waco
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$47,421
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
140,545 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lynn, MA
Pros
Households earn $22,625 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 95°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $442,800
Higher rents — median is $1,511/mo
Violent crime (574.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 21% higher than Waco
Waco, TX
Pros
Homes cost $269k less ($174,100 vs $442,800)
Rent averages $473/mo less ($1,038 vs $1,511)
26% less violent crime than Lynn
21% cheaper overall cost of living than Lynn
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (4.5%)
Cons
Median income trails Lynn by $22,625/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Lynn
Median Income
$22,625
$70,046 vs $47,421/yr
Waco
Cost of Living
21% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Waco
Violent Crime
26% lower
425.9 vs 574.6 per 100k
Waco
Median Home Value
$269k less
$174,100 vs $442,800
Waco
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
4.5% vs 5.7% unemployment
Waco
Summer Heat
14.2°F warmer
July avg high 94.5°F vs 80.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lynn, MA | Waco, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $442,800⚠ High | $174,100 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,511⚠ High | $1,038 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $70,046 ✓ Higher | $47,421 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 17.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.1% | 7.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 113⚠ High | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 151⚠ High | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 56 ✓ Safer | 101⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) | B- (96) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 21.9% | 27.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 77.2% | 85.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lynn | WACO ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.1°F | 58.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 80.3°F | 94.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.3" | 38.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 39.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 100,653 | 140,545 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.2 ✓ Older | 28.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.6% ✓ Higher | 47.3% |
| Under 18 | 24.0% ✓ More | 23.2% |
| Over 65 | 13.1% ✓ More | 12.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lynn's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Waco's 90.8 (US average = 100).
Waco is 21% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Waco leads 15 of 22 categories. Lynn wins 7 and Waco wins 15. 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 Lynn to Waco or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($442,800 vs $174,100 median home), income ($70,046 vs $47,421), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lynn, MA and Waco, TX are about 1,622 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.