Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Salt Lake City, UT
VS
Waco, TX
🏆 Waco leads 14 of 23 categories
Salt Lake City
Utah
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.7
Median Household Income
$72,357 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
227⚠ High
Population
201,269 ✓ 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.
Salt Lake City, UT
Pros
Households earn $24,936 more per year on average
More college-educated — 50.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (3.6%)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $458,600
Violent crime (864.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (5200.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Waco
Waco, TX
Pros
Homes cost $285k less ($174,100 vs $458,600)
51% less violent crime than Salt Lake City
Rent averages $216/mo less ($1,038 vs $1,254)
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 40°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Salt Lake City
Cons
Median income trails Salt Lake City by $24,936/yr
Higher unemployment (4.5% vs 3.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Salt Lake City
Median Income
$24,936
$72,357 vs $47,421/yr
Salt Lake City
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
3.6% vs 4.5% unemployment
Waco
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 97.7 (100 = US avg)
Waco
Violent Crime
51% lower
425.9 vs 864.2 per 100k
Waco
Median Home Value
$285k less
$174,100 vs $458,600
Waco
Summer Heat
3.1°F warmer
July avg high 94.5°F vs 91.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Salt Lake City, UT | Waco, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.7 | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $458,600⚠ High | $174,100 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,254 | $1,038 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $72,357 ✓ Higher | $47,421 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.6% ✓ Lower | 4.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.7 min | 17.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 15.9% ✓ Higher | 7.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 236⚠ High | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 227⚠ High | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 248⚠ High | 101⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | B- (96) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.2:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 50.2% ✓ Higher | 27.9% |
| High School or Higher | 91.2% ✓ Higher | 85.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Salt Lake District | WACO ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.7°F | 58.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 91.4°F | 94.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.7" ✓ Drier | 38.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 201,269 ✓ Larger | 140,545 |
| Median Age | 32.5 ✓ Older | 28.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.0% | 47.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.0% | 23.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.6% | 12.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Salt Lake City's cost of living index is 97.7 vs Waco's 90.8 (US average = 100).
Waco is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Waco leads 14 of 23 categories. Salt Lake City wins 9 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 Salt Lake City to Waco or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($458,600 vs $174,100 median home), income ($72,357 vs $47,421), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Salt Lake City, UT and Waco, TX are about 1,037 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.