Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Tyler, TX
VS
Waco, TX
🏆 Waco leads 13 of 23 categories
Tyler
Texas
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.4
Median Household Income
$63,056 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
103⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
106,440
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.
Tyler, TX
Pros
Households earn $15,635 more per year on average
8% less violent crime than Waco
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.4)
More college-educated — 31.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Higher unemployment (5.3% vs 4.5%)
Waco, TX
Pros
Homes cost $31k less ($174,100 vs $205,200)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (4.5%)
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
Rent averages $75/mo less ($1,038 vs $1,113)
Cons
Median income trails Tyler by $15,635/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Tyler
Median Income
$15,635
$63,056 vs $47,421/yr
Tyler
Violent Crime
8% lower
391.2 vs 425.9 per 100k
Waco
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 92.4 (100 = US avg)
Waco
Median Home Value
$31k less
$174,100 vs $205,200
Waco
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
4.5% vs 5.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Tyler, TX | Waco, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.4 | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $205,200 | $174,100 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,113 | $1,038 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,056 ✓ Higher | $47,421 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.6 min | 17.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.1% | 7.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 98 ✓ Safer | 108⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer | 112⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 91 ✓ Safer | 101⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (97) ✓ Better | B- (96) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.3:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.1% ✓ Higher | 27.9% |
| High School or Higher | 87.7% ✓ Higher | 85.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | TYLER ISD | WACO ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.9°F | 58.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 93.1°F | 94.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.7" | 38.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.5" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 106,440 | 140,545 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.9 ✓ Older | 28.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.9% ✓ Higher | 47.3% |
| Under 18 | 22.9% | 23.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.3% ✓ More | 12.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Tyler's cost of living index is 92.4 vs Waco's 90.8 (US average = 100).
Waco is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Waco leads 13 of 23 categories. Tyler wins 10 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 Tyler to Waco or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($205,200 vs $174,100 median home), income ($63,056 vs $47,421), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Tyler, TX and Waco, TX are about 122 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.