Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Roswell, GA
VS
Waco, TX
🏆 Roswell leads 14 of 23 categories
Roswell
Georgia
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$122,924 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
42 ✓ Safer
Population
92,770
Waco
Texas
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$47,421
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High
Population
140,545 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Roswell, GA
Pros
Households earn $75,503 more per year on average
62% less violent crime than Waco
More college-educated — 63.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (160.1 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 89°F vs 95°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $479,400
Higher rents — median is $1,619/mo
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Waco
Longer commutes — 29.1 min average each way
Waco, TX
Pros
Homes cost $305k less ($174,100 vs $479,400)
Rent averages $581/mo less ($1,038 vs $1,619)
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Roswell
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 52°F
Cons
Median income trails Roswell by $75,503/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Roswell
Median Income
$75,503
$122,924 vs $47,421/yr
Roswell
Violent Crime
62% lower
160.1 vs 425.9 per 100k
Waco
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 100.9 (100 = US avg)
Waco
Median Home Value
$305k less
$174,100 vs $479,400
Waco
Summer Heat
5.1°F warmer
July avg high 94.5°F vs 89.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Roswell, GA | Waco, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.9⚠ High | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $479,400⚠ High | $174,100 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,619⚠ High | $1,038 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $122,924 ✓ Higher | $47,421 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.1 min⚠ High | 17.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 25.2% ✓ Higher | 7.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 45 ✓ Safer | 108⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 42 ✓ Safer | 112⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 49 ✓ Safer | 101⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) ✓ Better | B- (96) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 63.4% ✓ Higher | 27.9% |
| High School or Higher | 94.8% ✓ Higher | 85.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fulton County | WACO ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.9°F | 58.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.4°F | 94.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 53.5" | 38.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 92,770 | 140,545 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.5 ✓ Older | 28.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 70.8% ✓ Higher | 47.3% |
| Under 18 | 24.0% ✓ More | 23.2% |
| Over 65 | 15.1% ✓ More | 12.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Roswell's cost of living index is 100.9 vs Waco's 90.8 (US average = 100).
Waco is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Roswell leads 14 of 23 categories. Roswell wins 14 and Waco wins 9. 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 Roswell to Waco or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($479,400 vs $174,100 median home), income ($122,924 vs $47,421), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Roswell, GA and Waco, TX are about 765 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.