Waco, TX Local Data & Statistics

State: TX

Total population: 143,570 Household income: $54,365 Rent: $1,165

Overview

Total population

143,570

Rent

$1,165

Year built

1979

Household income

$54,365

Per capita income

$30,942

Poverty rate

23.1%

Unemployment rate

3.4%

Household size

2.5 persons

Rent over 30% of income

54.7%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available, with the exception of the unemployment rate, which is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). ACS 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Demographics

State

Texas

Total population

143,570

Adults over 25

83,016

Total households

53,906

Household size

2.5 persons

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Income & Poverty

Household income

$54,365

Per capita income

$30,942

Poverty rate

23.1%

Unemployment rate

3.4%

Rent over 30% of income

54.7%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Housing

Rent

$1,165

Year built

1979

Households that rent

50.6%

Households that own

49.4%

Rooms per home (all homes)

5.2

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Race

White

48.3%

Black

19.8%

Asian

2.1%

Two or more races

25%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino

30.6%

Not Hispanic or Latino

69.4%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Commute

Commute rate

90.3%

Commute time to work

19 mins

Work from home

9.7%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Education

Less than high school

33.5%

High school graduate or GED

26.7%

Some college or associate degree

11.2%

Bachelor’s degree or higher

28.7%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Comparison of Waco, TX with: Texas United States

Waco, TX

Total population143,570

Rent$1,165

Year built1979

Household income$54,365

Per capita income$30,942

Poverty rate23.1%

Unemployment rate3.4%

Texas State

Total population30,188,424

Rent$1,403

Year built1992

Household income$78,476

Per capita income$40,752

Poverty rate13.8%

Unemployment rate4.1%

United States

Total population334,922,499

Rent$1,413

Year built1980

Household income$80,734

Per capita income$44,673

Poverty rate12.5%

Unemployment rate4%

Metric	CityWaco, TX	StateTexas	CountryUnited States
Total population	143,570	30,188,424	334,922,499
Rent	$1,165	$1,403	$1,413
Year built	1979	1992	1980
Household income	$54,365	$78,476	$80,734
Per capita income	$30,942	$40,752	$44,673
Poverty rate	23.1%	13.8%	12.5%
Unemployment rate	3.4%	4.1%	4%

View the complete comparison of Waco, TX, Texas and United States →

Summary for Waco, TX

Waco is located in Texas.

Rent & Income

In Waco, the typical monthly rent is $1,165 and the typical household income is $54,365. Rent here is lower than in both Texas and the U.S., and household income is also lower than in both. The estimated poverty rate is 23.1%, which is higher than in both Texas and national.

Housing & Affordability

Renters make up about 50.6% of households, indicating a relatively balanced mix of renters and owners. About 54.7% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing, indicating high cost burden.

Education & Employment

Educational attainment is moderate, with about 28.7% of adults holding a bachelor’s degree or higher. The local unemployment rate is 3.4%, which is lower than both Texas and the national rate.

Waco, TX — Rent vs Household Income

Waco, TX — Poverty vs Unemployment

How Waco, TX compares in Texas (71 places)

Metric	This place	Rank	Starts from	Statewide range
Rent	$1,165	16 / 71	from lower rent	$923 – $2,231
Household income	$54,365	65 / 71	from higher income	$46,354 – $161,235
Poverty rate	23.1%	64 / 71	from lower poverty	3.6% – 29.2%
Unemployment rate	3.4%	29 / 71	from lower unemployment	2.6% – 8.2%

Rankings are calculated among cities and communities in Texas with total population > 50,000 (year 2024).

Detailed Ranking Explanation for Waco, TX

Rent

In rent comparisons, Waco comes in 16th out of 71 large places. Across Texas, rents vary from $923 in Brownsville, TX to $2,231 in Flower Mound, TX.

Household income

For household income, Waco ranks 65th out of 71 large places. Across Texas, incomes range from $46,354 in Port Arthur, TX to $161,235 in Flower Mound, TX.

Poverty rate

For poverty rates, Waco is ranked 64th among 71 major areas. Across Texas, poverty runs from 3.6% in Frisco, TX to 29.2% in College Station, TX.

Unemployment rate

In terms of unemployment, Waco is ranked 29th out of 71 major areas. Across Texas, rates go from 2.6% in Amarillo, TX up to 8.2% in Port Arthur, TX.

💰 Rent in Waco, TX (with Utilities)

Estimated Monthly Rent: $1,165 ℹ️ What’s Included:
✅ Base rent, electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuels
❌ Not included: internet, cable TV, renter's insurance, parking

💡 What does this rent estimate mean?

Explanation: This estimate shows what renters typically pay each month for housing, including the apartment or home and essential utilities such as heat, water, and electricity. Even when utilities are billed separately, an estimated average cost for utilities is included, in line with the U.S. Census Bureau’s (ACS) definition of gross rent.

Included in this number: Rent plus electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuel.

Not included: Internet, cable, parking, renter’s insurance, or furniture rental.

Note: This cost does not depend on the number of people living in the home.

👨‍👧‍👦 Household Income in Waco, TX

Annual Household Income: $54,365

💡 What does Household Income mean?

Definition: This represents the middle value of all household incomes in this area — half of households earn less, and half earn more.

Includes: wages, salaries, self-employment income, Social Security, pensions, investments, unemployment, public assistance, and rental income.

Does NOT include: capital gains, non-cash benefits (like food stamps), or tax refunds.

Household = any group of people (or a single person) living in the same housing unit.

Example: A couple earning $40,000 and $30,000 together have a household income of $70,000. If that's in the middle of all local incomes, it's the value shown here.

📉 Poverty Rate in Waco, TX

Estimated Rate: 23.1%

💡 What does the Poverty Rate represent?

Definition: The percentage of people in this area living below the federal poverty threshold.

How it works: The threshold is a dollar amount set by the U.S. Census Bureau that varies by family size and age. If a household's income is below that level, everyone in it is included in this rate.

Example: In a town of 10,000 people, if 1,500 have incomes below the poverty line, the poverty rate is 15%.

Note: This statistic only includes people living in households; it does not count those in student housing, military barracks, or nursing homes.

🏘️ Renter vs. Owner Households in Waco, TX

In Waco, TX, households that rent: 27,258 (50.6%)

📊 What does the renter household percentage reveal about this area?

Household Type	Count	Share
Renter-Occupied	27,258	50.6%
Owner-Occupied	26,648	49.4%

Definition: This is the percentage of households that rent their home rather than own it. It includes only occupied housing units.

Why it matters: Areas with a high share of renter households often have younger populations, higher mobility, and different housing needs compared to mostly owner-occupied areas.

Example: If 65% of homes in an area are renter-occupied, it means 65 out of every 100 households rent their home.

📉 Renters Spending Over 30% of Income on Rent in Waco, TX

In Waco, TX, cost-burdened renters (households spending over 30% of income on housing): 14,899 (54.7%)

🏚️ What Does It Mean When Renters Spend Over 30% of Their Income on Housing?

Household Group	Households	Share
Cost-burdened renters (over 30%)	14,899	54.7%
Other renter households	12,359	45.3%
Total renter households	27,258	100%

Shares are calculated as a percentage of renter households.

This shows how many renters in this area are considered cost-burdened — meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on housing (rent and basic utilities).

It’s a sign that housing might be unaffordable in the area or that lower-income residents may be struggling with rent.

Data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.

📊 Education Levels in Waco, TX

Less than High School: 27,774 people (33.5%)

Includes adults who did not complete high school.

High School Graduate or GED: 22,134 people (26.7%)

Includes adults whose highest education is a high school diploma or GED.

Some College or Associate Degree: 9,267 people (11.2%)

Includes adults who attended college without completing a bachelor’s degree (some college or associate degree).

Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 23,841 people (28.7%)

Includes adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher (bachelor’s, master’s, professional, or doctoral degree).

👥 Total Adults (25+): 83,016

📊 Unemployment Rate in Waco, TX

Estimated Rate: 3.4%

💡 What does Unemployment Rate mean?

Definition: The unemployment rate is the percentage of people in the labor force who do not have a job but are actively looking for one.

Labor Force = Employed + Unemployed (aged 16+ and actively participating in the workforce).

Formula: (Unemployed ÷ Labor Force) × 100

Does NOT include: People who are retired, students not looking for work, homemakers, or otherwise not seeking employment.

Example: If there are 1000 people in the labor force and 80 are unemployed, then the unemployment rate is 8%.

Similar Population

Gainesville, FL143,611 Torrance, CA143,499 Olathe, KS143,720 McAllen, TX143,789 Thornton, CO142,878 Visalia, CA142,649 Fullerton, CA141,278 Syracuse, NY146,211 Denton, TX146,987 Savannah, GA147,546

ℹ️ Have questions about how these statistics are calculated? See our data methodology & FAQs

Source: ACS 5-Year Estimates (U.S. Census Bureau) — unemployment rate from BLS. Some values are derived metrics.