The Town FilesWaco, Texas
City in McLennan County · population 138,486 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $221,700
- Household income
- $54,365
- Jan low / Jul high
- 36° / 95°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 23
- Median age
- 29.7
Waco is a city of 138,486 people in McLennan County, Texas. The median home is worth $221,700, above the typical Texas town ($184,100). It ranks hipper than 94% of Texas towns, more walkable than 93% of Texas towns, better for cycling than 93% of Texas towns.
How Waco ranks
Percentile among Texas towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Texas towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Waco is worth $221,700, above the typical Texas town ($184,100). Homes cost about 4.1 times the median household income of $54,365, which is more affordable than 14% of Texas towns. Median rent is $1,165 a month. 49.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Waco | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $221,700 | $184,100 |
| Median rent | $1,165 | $1,086 |
| Median household income | $54,365 | $65,842 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.1× | 2.9× |
| Homeownership | 49.4% | 72.9% |
| Median year built | 1979 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.3% | — |
Who lives in Waco
| People | Waco | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 29.7 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 13.4% | 15.6% |
| Under 18 | 22.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 28.7% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 23.1% | 13.1% |
| Veterans | 6.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 10.5% | — |
| Work from home | 9.7% | 7.8% |
| Average commute | 18.7 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.9% | 89.2% |
Weather in Waco
July highs average 94.5°F and January lows 35.7°F. About 37.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical Texas town: 0.2 in). Expect about 108 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 38 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Waco since 1950, compared with 21 for the typical Texas town. 10 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F5, struck on May 11, 1953 about 2.4 miles from the town center and killed 114. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 114 deaths and 608 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 26, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 152 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on April 26, 2023.
Severe weather in McLennan County since 1996
McLennan County has been included in 25 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, other.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| February 19, 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | DR-4586: Severe Winter Storms |
| February 14, 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | EM-3554: Severe Winter Storm |
| March 25, 2020 | Biological | DR-4485: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3458: Covid-19 |
| May 29, 2015 | Severe Storm | DR-4223: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in McLennan County
McLennan County had 122,697 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $60,387 a year. Unemployment was 3.7% in 2023; in Waco itself the ACS puts it at 4.6%.
Public schools in Waco
56 public schools with 26,539 students, about 14.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| MIDWAY H S | 9-12 | 2,730 | 15.5 |
| WACO H S | 9-12 | 1,778 | 12.4 |
| UNIVERSITY H S | 9-12 | 1,750 | 15.5 |
| TENNYSON MIDDLE | 6-8 | 947 | 14.3 |
| LA VEGA H S | 9-12 | 877 | 14.4 |
| CESAR CHAVEZ MIDDLE | 6-8 | 813 | 14.3 |
| BELL'S HILL EL | PK-5 | 781 | 15.6 |
| G W CARVER MIDDLE (charter) | 6-8 | 776 | 11.4 |
| LAKE AIR MONTESSORI SCHOOL | PK-8 | 711 | 13.7 |
| LA VEGA EL | 1-3 | 672 | 17.2 |
| CHINA SPRING EL | 2-4 | 657 | 14.3 |
| LA VEGA INT H P MILES CAMPUS | 4-6 | 634 | 17.1 |
Towns near Waco
- Woodway, TX4.8 mi · 9,383 people · home $370,500
- Bellmead, TX6.6 mi · 10,494 people · home $155,100
- Lacy-Lakeview, TX7.1 mi · 6,988 people · home $160,600
- Hewitt, TX7.4 mi · 16,026 people · home $273,300
- Robinson, TX8.3 mi · 12,443 people · home $302,200
- McGregor, TX16.8 mi · 5,321 people · home $221,700
- West, TX17.8 mi · 2,531 people · home $182,900
- Marlin, TX24.6 mi · 5,462 people · home $66,000
Waco questions
Is Waco, Texas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Waco scores better for retirees than 21% of Texas towns and quieter than 10%. 13.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 29.7).
How much does a house cost in Waco?
The median owner-occupied home in Waco is valued at $221,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $54,365, so homes cost about 4.1 times income. Median rent is $1,165 a month.
What is the weather like in Waco?
July highs average 94.5°F and January lows 35.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 37.5 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Waco get tornadoes?
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Waco since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F5 on May 11, 1953. The typical Texas town has had 21.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)