Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Tampa, FL
VS
Waco, TX
🏆 Tampa leads 12 of 22 categories
Tampa
Florida
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$66,802 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
117⚠ High
Population
388,768 ✓ Larger
Waco
Texas
10
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.
Tampa, FL
Pros
Households earn $19,381 more per year on average
More college-educated — 43.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 59°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $333,200
Higher rents — median is $1,422/mo
Violent crime (444.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Waco
Waco, TX
Pros
Homes cost $159k less ($174,100 vs $333,200)
Rent averages $384/mo less ($1,038 vs $1,422)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (4.5%)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Tampa
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
Cons
Median income trails Tampa by $19,381/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Tampa
Median Income
$19,381
$66,802 vs $47,421/yr
Waco
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 103.4 (100 = US avg)
Waco
Violent Crime
4% lower
425.9 vs 444.6 per 100k
Waco
Median Home Value
$159k less
$174,100 vs $333,200
Waco
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
4.5% vs 5.2% unemployment
Waco
Summer Heat
3.5°F warmer
July avg high 94.5°F vs 91.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Tampa, FL | Waco, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.4⚠ High | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $333,200⚠ High | $174,100 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,422⚠ High | $1,038 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,802 ✓ Higher | $47,421 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.8 min | 17.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.0% ✓ Higher | 7.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 98 ✓ Safer | 108⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 117⚠ High | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 101⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) ✓ Better | B- (96) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.7:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 43.3% ✓ Higher | 27.9% |
| High School or Higher | 89.0% ✓ Higher | 85.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | HILLSBOROUGH | WACO ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 71.3°F ✓ Warmer | 58.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.0°F | 94.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.5" | 38.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 388,768 ✓ Larger | 140,545 |
| Median Age | 35.5 ✓ Older | 28.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.5% ✓ Higher | 47.3% |
| Under 18 | 20.8% | 23.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.0% ✓ More | 12.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Tampa's cost of living index is 103.4 vs Waco's 90.8 (US average = 100).
Waco is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Tampa leads 12 of 22 categories. Tampa wins 12 and Waco wins 10. 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 Tampa to Waco or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($333,200 vs $174,100 median home), income ($66,802 vs $47,421), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Tampa, FL and Waco, TX are about 916 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.