Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Oklahoma City, OK
VS
Waco, TX
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Oklahoma City
Oklahoma
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0
Median Household Income
$64,251 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
178⚠ High
Population
681,088 ✓ Larger
Waco
Texas
11
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.
Oklahoma City, OK
Pros
Households earn $16,830 more per year on average
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
More college-educated — 33.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (676.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2893.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Waco, TX
Pros
37% less violent crime than Oklahoma City
Homes cost $23k less ($174,100 vs $196,700)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 49°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Oklahoma City by $16,830/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Oklahoma City
Median Income
$16,830
$64,251 vs $47,421/yr
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 91.0 on the COL index
Waco
Violent Crime
37% lower
425.9 vs 676.0 per 100k
Waco
Median Home Value
$23k less
$174,100 vs $196,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Oklahoma City, OK | Waco, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.0 | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $196,700 | $174,100 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,012 ✓ Lower | $1,038 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,251 ✓ Higher | $47,421 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.5%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.0 min | 17.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.5% ✓ Higher | 7.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 162⚠ High | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 178⚠ High | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 138⚠ High | 101⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | B- (96) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.2:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.2% ✓ Higher | 27.9% |
| High School or Higher | 87.7% ✓ Higher | 85.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | OKLAHOMA CITY | WACO ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 49.3°F | 58.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 93.1°F | 94.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 37.0" ✓ Drier | 38.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 681,088 ✓ Larger | 140,545 |
| Median Age | 34.9 ✓ Older | 28.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.5% ✓ Higher | 47.3% |
| Under 18 | 25.0% ✓ More | 23.2% |
| Over 65 | 13.1% ✓ More | 12.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Oklahoma City's cost of living index is 91.0 vs Waco's 90.8 (US average = 100).
Waco is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Oklahoma City wins 11 and Waco wins 11. 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 Oklahoma City to Waco or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($196,700 vs $174,100 median home), income ($64,251 vs $47,421), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Oklahoma City, OK and Waco, TX are about 271 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.