Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Waco, TX
VS
Yakima, WA
🏆 Waco leads 15 of 23 categories
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
Yakima
Washington
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$55,734 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
143⚠ High
Population
96,764
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Waco, TX
Pros
Homes cost $69k less ($174,100 vs $243,300)
22% less violent crime than Yakima
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.6 pts lower (4.5%)
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Yakima
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 40°F
More college-educated — 27.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Yakima by $8,313/yr
Yakima, WA
Pros
Households earn $8,313 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 88°F vs 95°F
Cons
Violent crime (544.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Waco
Higher unemployment (8.1% vs 4.5%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Waco
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 101.6 (100 = US avg)
Waco
Violent Crime
22% lower
425.9 vs 544.3 per 100k
Waco
Median Home Value
$69k less
$174,100 vs $243,300
Waco
Unemployment
3.6 pp lower
4.5% vs 8.1% unemployment
Waco
Summer Heat
6.2°F warmer
July avg high 94.5°F vs 88.3°F
Yakima
Median Income
$8,313
$55,734 vs $47,421/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Waco, TX | Yakima, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper | 101.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $174,100 ✓ Lower | $243,300 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,038 | $1,014 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $47,421 | $55,734 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.5 min ✓ Shorter | 17.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% ✓ Higher | 5.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer | 125⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer | 143⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 101⚠ High | 97 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) ✓ Better | C (79) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.9% ✓ Higher | 19.3% |
| High School or Higher | 85.0% ✓ Higher | 77.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | WACO ISD | Yakima School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.5°F ✓ Warmer | 39.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.5°F ✓ Warmer | 88.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.7" | 8.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 20.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 140,545 ✓ Larger | 96,764 |
| Median Age | 28.8 | 33.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.3% | 53.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.2% | 27.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.9% | 15.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Waco's cost of living index is 90.8 vs Yakima's 101.6 (US average = 100).
Waco is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Waco leads 15 of 23 categories. Waco wins 15 and Yakima wins 8. 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 Waco to Yakima or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($174,100 vs $243,300 median home), income ($47,421 vs $55,734), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Waco, TX and Yakima, WA are about 1,616 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.