Head-to-Head · City Comparison
South Fulton, GA
VS
Waco, TX
🏆 Waco leads 15 of 23 categories
South Fulton
Georgia
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$77,488 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High
Population
107,865
Waco
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$47,421
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
140,545 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
South Fulton, GA
Pros
Households earn $30,067 more per year on average
More college-educated — 39.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,461/mo
Violent crime (470.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Waco
Higher unemployment (7.8% vs 4.5%)
Waco, TX
Pros
Rent averages $423/mo less ($1,038 vs $1,461)
Homes cost $68k less ($174,100 vs $242,200)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.3 pts lower (4.5%)
9% less violent crime than South Fulton
Commutes run 15 min shorter each way
10% cheaper overall cost of living than South Fulton
Cons
Median income trails South Fulton by $30,067/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
South Fulton
Median Income
$30,067
$77,488 vs $47,421/yr
Waco
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 100.9 (100 = US avg)
Waco
Violent Crime
9% lower
425.9 vs 470.5 per 100k
Waco
Median Home Value
$68k less
$174,100 vs $242,200
Waco
Unemployment
3.3 pp lower
4.5% vs 7.8% unemployment
Waco
Summer Heat
4.4°F warmer
July avg high 94.5°F vs 90.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | South Fulton, GA | Waco, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.9⚠ High | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $242,200 | $174,100 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,461⚠ High | $1,038 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $77,488 ✓ Higher | $47,421 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.8%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.5 min⚠ High | 17.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 12.5% ✓ Higher | 7.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 111⚠ High | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 124⚠ High | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 91 ✓ Safer | 101⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (86) | B- (96) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.0:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 39.1% ✓ Higher | 27.9% |
| High School or Higher | 93.1% ✓ Higher | 85.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | State Specialty Schools I- Georgia Cyber Academy | WACO ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.0°F | 58.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.1°F | 94.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.2" | 38.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 107,865 | 140,545 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.1 ✓ Older | 28.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 69.2% ✓ Higher | 47.3% |
| Under 18 | 24.1% ✓ More | 23.2% |
| Over 65 | 11.4% | 12.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
South Fulton'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, Waco leads 15 of 23 categories. South Fulton wins 8 and Waco wins 15. 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 South Fulton to Waco or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($242,200 vs $174,100 median home), income ($77,488 vs $47,421), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
South Fulton, GA and Waco, TX are about 747 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.