Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Vista, CA
VS
Waco, TX
🏆 Waco leads 12 of 22 categories
Vista
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$88,715 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
83 ✓ Safer
Population
98,392
Waco
Texas
12
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.
Vista, CA
Pros
Households earn $41,294 more per year on average
26% less violent crime than Waco
Cooler summers — July highs near 79°F vs 95°F
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 59°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $622,900
Higher rents — median is $2,002/mo
Cost of living runs 21% higher than Waco
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Waco, TX
Pros
Homes cost $449k less ($174,100 vs $622,900)
Rent averages $964/mo less ($1,038 vs $2,002)
21% cheaper overall cost of living than Vista
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (4.5%)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
Cons
Median income trails Vista by $41,294/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Vista
Median Income
$41,294
$88,715 vs $47,421/yr
Vista
Violent Crime
26% lower
316.4 vs 425.9 per 100k
Waco
Cost of Living
21% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
Waco
Median Home Value
$449k less
$174,100 vs $622,900
Waco
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
4.5% vs 6.3% unemployment
Waco
Summer Heat
15.6°F warmer
July avg high 94.5°F vs 78.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Vista, CA | Waco, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.5⚠ High | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $622,900⚠ High | $174,100 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,002⚠ High | $1,038 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $88,715 ✓ Higher | $47,421 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.3%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.1 min | 17.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.8% ✓ Higher | 7.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 66 ✓ Safer | 108⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 83 ✓ Safer | 112⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 41 ✓ Safer | 101⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | B- (96) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.7:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.2% | 27.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.1% | 85.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Vista Unified | WACO ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.6°F ✓ Warmer | 58.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 78.9°F | 94.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 13.2" ✓ Drier | 38.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 98,392 | 140,545 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.9 ✓ Older | 28.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.4% ✓ Higher | 47.3% |
| Under 18 | 23.9% ✓ More | 23.2% |
| Over 65 | 11.9% | 12.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Vista's cost of living index is 111.5 vs Waco's 90.8 (US average = 100).
Waco is 21% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Waco leads 12 of 22 categories. Vista wins 10 and Waco wins 12. 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 Vista to Waco or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($622,900 vs $174,100 median home), income ($88,715 vs $47,421), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Vista, CA and Waco, TX are about 1,173 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.