Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Tracy, CA
VS
Waco, TX
🏆 Waco leads 13 of 22 categories
Tracy
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$111,717 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
79 ✓ Safer
Population
94,027
Waco
Texas
13
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.
Tracy, CA
Pros
Households earn $64,296 more per year on average
29% less violent crime than Waco
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $617,300
Higher rents — median is $2,162/mo
Cost of living runs 17% higher than Waco
Higher unemployment (5.4% vs 4.5%)
Waco, TX
Pros
Homes cost $443k less ($174,100 vs $617,300)
Rent averages $1124/mo less ($1,038 vs $2,162)
Commutes run 26 min shorter each way
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Tracy
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (4.5%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
Cons
Median income trails Tracy by $64,296/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Tracy
Median Income
$64,296
$111,717 vs $47,421/yr
Tracy
Violent Crime
29% lower
301.4 vs 425.9 per 100k
Waco
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 107.4 (100 = US avg)
Waco
Median Home Value
$443k less
$174,100 vs $617,300
Waco
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
4.5% vs 5.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Tracy, CA | Waco, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.4⚠ High | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $617,300⚠ High | $174,100 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,162⚠ High | $1,038 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $111,717 ✓ Higher | $47,421 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 43.5 min⚠ High | 17.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.4% ✓ Higher | 7.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 78 ✓ Safer | 108⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 79 ✓ Safer | 112⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 76 ✓ Safer | 101⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (71) | B- (96) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.0:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.4% | 27.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 83.9% | 85.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jefferson Elementary | WACO ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.2°F | 58.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 93.2°F | 94.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.7" ✓ Drier | 38.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,027 | 140,545 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.4 ✓ Older | 28.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 64.0% ✓ Higher | 47.3% |
| Under 18 | 26.6% ✓ More | 23.2% |
| Over 65 | 9.7% | 12.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Tracy's cost of living index is 107.4 vs Waco's 90.8 (US average = 100).
Waco is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Waco leads 13 of 22 categories. Tracy wins 9 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 Tracy to Waco or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($617,300 vs $174,100 median home), income ($111,717 vs $47,421), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Tracy, CA and Waco, TX are about 1,439 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.