Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Richmond, VA
VS
Waco, TX
🏆 Waco leads 13 of 23 categories
Richmond
Virginia
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0
Median Household Income
$59,606 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
89 ✓ Safer
Population
227,171 ✓ Larger
Waco
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$47,421
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High
Population
140,545
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Richmond, VA
Pros
21% less violent crime than Waco
Households earn $12,185 more per year on average
More college-educated — 44.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 90°F vs 95°F
Smaller class sizes — 11.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $308,300
Property crime (3179.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.1% vs 4.5%)
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Waco
Waco, TX
Pros
Homes cost $134k less ($174,100 vs $308,300)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (4.5%)
Rent averages $189/mo less ($1,038 vs $1,227)
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 48°F
Cons
Median income trails Richmond by $12,185/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Richmond
Median Income
$12,185
$59,606 vs $47,421/yr
Richmond
Violent Crime
21% lower
336.9 vs 425.9 per 100k
Waco
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 98.0 (100 = US avg)
Waco
Median Home Value
$134k less
$174,100 vs $308,300
Waco
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
4.5% vs 6.1% unemployment
Waco
Summer Heat
5.0°F warmer
July avg high 94.5°F vs 89.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Richmond, VA | Waco, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $308,300⚠ High | $174,100 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,227 | $1,038 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,606 ✓ Higher | $47,421 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.0 min | 17.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 14.3% ✓ Higher | 7.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 114⚠ High | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 ✓ Safer | 112⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 151⚠ High | 101⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | B- (96) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.1% ✓ Higher | 27.9% |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% ✓ Higher | 85.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Richmond City Public Schools | WACO ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.8°F | 58.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.5°F | 94.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.1" | 38.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 8.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 227,171 ✓ Larger | 140,545 |
| Median Age | 34.5 ✓ Older | 28.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 43.2% | 47.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.1% | 23.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.8% ✓ More | 12.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Richmond's cost of living index is 98.0 vs Waco's 90.8 (US average = 100).
Waco is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Waco leads 13 of 23 categories. Richmond wins 10 and Waco wins 13. 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 Richmond to Waco or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($308,300 vs $174,100 median home), income ($59,606 vs $47,421), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Richmond, VA and Waco, TX are about 1,193 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.