Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Macon-Bibb County, GA
VS
Waco, TX
🏆 Macon-Bibb County leads 12 of 22 categories
Macon-Bibb County
Georgia
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$48,897 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
394⚠ High
Population
156,554 ✓ Larger
Waco
Texas
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8
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.
Macon-Bibb County, GA
Pros
Homes cost $19k less ($155,200 vs $174,100)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.0)
Cons
Violent crime (1497.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3808.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.5% vs 4.5%)
Waco, TX
Pros
72% less violent crime than Macon-Bibb County
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.0 pts lower (4.5%)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Macon-Bibb County
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 90.8 (100 = US avg)
Macon-Bibb County
Median Income
$1,476
$48,897 vs $47,421/yr
Macon-Bibb County
Median Home Value
$19k less
$155,200 vs $174,100
Waco
Violent Crime
72% lower
425.9 vs 1497.8 per 100k
Waco
Unemployment
3.0 pp lower
4.5% vs 7.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Macon-Bibb County, GA | Waco, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper | 90.8 |
| Median Home Value | $155,200 ✓ Lower | $174,100 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $967 ✓ Lower | $1,038 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $48,897 ✓ Higher | $47,421 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.7 min | 17.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% | 7.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 309⚠ High | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 394⚠ High | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 181⚠ High | 101⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B- (96) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.9% | 27.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.5% ✓ Higher | 85.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bibb County | WACO ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.3°F ✓ Warmer | 58.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.5°F | 94.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.3" | 38.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 156,554 ✓ Larger | 140,545 |
| Median Age | 36.5 ✓ Older | 28.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.6% ✓ Higher | 47.3% |
| Under 18 | 24.2% ✓ More | 23.2% |
| Over 65 | 16.2% ✓ More | 12.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Macon-Bibb County's cost of living index is 90.0 vs Waco's 90.8 (US average = 100).
Macon-Bibb County is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Macon-Bibb County leads 12 of 22 categories. Macon-Bibb County wins 12 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 Macon-Bibb County to Waco or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($155,200 vs $174,100 median home), income ($48,897 vs $47,421), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Macon-Bibb County, GA and Waco, TX are about 793 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.