Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Oakland, CA
VS
Waco, TX
🏆 Waco leads 12 of 22 categories
Oakland
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$94,389 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
507⚠ High
Population
437,825 ✓ Larger
Waco
Texas
12
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.
Oakland, CA
Pros
Households earn $46,968 more per year on average
More college-educated — 48.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 72°F vs 95°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $883,800
Higher rents — median is $1,849/mo
Cost of living runs 27% higher than Waco
Violent crime (1925.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Waco, TX
Pros
Homes cost $710k less ($174,100 vs $883,800)
Rent averages $811/mo less ($1,038 vs $1,849)
78% less violent crime than Oakland
27% cheaper overall cost of living than Oakland
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (4.5%)
Cons
Median income trails Oakland by $46,968/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Oakland
Median Income
$46,968
$94,389 vs $47,421/yr
Waco
Cost of Living
27% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Waco
Violent Crime
78% lower
425.9 vs 1925.3 per 100k
Waco
Median Home Value
$710k less
$174,100 vs $883,800
Waco
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
4.5% vs 5.8% unemployment
Waco
Summer Heat
22.9°F warmer
July avg high 94.5°F vs 71.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Oakland, CA | Waco, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $883,800⚠ High | $174,100 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,849⚠ High | $1,038 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $94,389 ✓ Higher | $47,421 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.5 min⚠ High | 17.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 20.3% ✓ Higher | 7.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 400⚠ High | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 507⚠ High | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 344⚠ High | 101⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (98) ✓ Better | B- (96) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.8:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.4% ✓ Higher | 27.9% |
| High School or Higher | 85.6% ✓ Higher | 85.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Oakland Unified | WACO ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.8°F ✓ Warmer | 58.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 71.6°F | 94.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 22.5" ✓ Drier | 38.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 437,825 ✓ Larger | 140,545 |
| Median Age | 37.5 ✓ Older | 28.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.1% | 47.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.1% | 23.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.1% ✓ More | 12.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Oakland's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Waco's 90.8 (US average = 100).
Waco is 27% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Waco leads 12 of 22 categories. Oakland wins 10 and Waco wins 12. 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 Oakland to Waco or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($883,800 vs $174,100 median home), income ($94,389 vs $47,421), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Oakland, CA and Waco, TX are about 1,481 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.