Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Miami, FL
VS
Waco, TX
🏆 Waco leads 14 of 21 categories
Miami
Florida
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$54,858 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
125⚠ High
Population
443,665 ✓ Larger
Waco
Texas
14
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.
Miami, FL
Pros
Households earn $7,437 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 74°F vs 59°F
More college-educated — 34.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 88°F vs 95°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $433,900
Higher rents — median is $1,494/mo
Violent crime (473.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 21% higher than Waco
Waco, TX
Pros
Homes cost $260k less ($174,100 vs $433,900)
Rent averages $456/mo less ($1,038 vs $1,494)
10% less violent crime than Miami
21% cheaper overall cost of living than Miami
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (4.5%)
Cons
Median income trails Miami by $7,437/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Miami
Median Income
$7,437
$54,858 vs $47,421/yr
Waco
Cost of Living
21% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Waco
Violent Crime
10% lower
425.9 vs 473.3 per 100k
Waco
Median Home Value
$260k less
$174,100 vs $433,900
Waco
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
4.5% vs 5.0% unemployment
Waco
Summer Heat
6.7°F warmer
July avg high 94.5°F vs 87.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Miami, FL | Waco, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.8⚠ High | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $433,900⚠ High | $174,100 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,494⚠ High | $1,038 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,858 ✓ Higher | $47,421 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.2 min⚠ High | 17.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.9% ✓ Higher | 7.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 132⚠ High | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 125⚠ High | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 143⚠ High | 101⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) | B- (96) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.4:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.2% ✓ Higher | 27.9% |
| High School or Higher | 78.8% | 85.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | MIAMI-DADE | WACO ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 73.6°F ✓ Warmer | 58.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 87.8°F | 94.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 57.2" | 38.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 443,665 ✓ Larger | 140,545 |
| Median Age | 39.7 ✓ Older | 28.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 30.1% | 47.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.5% | 23.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.3% ✓ More | 12.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Miami's cost of living index is 111.8 vs Waco's 90.8 (US average = 100).
Waco is 21% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Waco leads 14 of 21 categories. Miami wins 7 and Waco wins 14. 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 Miami to Waco or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($433,900 vs $174,100 median home), income ($54,858 vs $47,421), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Miami, FL and Waco, TX are about 1,103 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.