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CITY · 2020 ACS

Waco

Texas · 138,486 residents · 91.005 sq mi
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The short version

Waco has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $40,349. Population has grown 22% since 2000. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $133,500. At a median age of 30.6, residents skew younger than the country as a whole. The poverty rate of 25.3% is well above the national figure. Households here earn about 37% less than the Texas median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Younger
median age 30.6
US median: 38.8
Less educated
25% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Less affordable
home values up 67%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
138,486
+22%since 2000
from 113,726 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
1,522 / sq mi
+22%since 2000
from 1,250 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 280
Median age
30.6
+10%since 2000
from 27.9 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
100K112K124K136K148K1990201020202024Waco
2024144K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$40,349
+2%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $26,264 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$23,126
+59%since 2000
from $14,584 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
26.9%
+11.9 ptssince 2009
from 15.0% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
Poverty rate
25.3%
−1.0 ptssince 2000
from 26.3% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Information13.4%
US avg: 11.1%
Retail trade10.4%
US avg: 10%
Wholesale trade7%
US avg: 6.7%
Other services5.4%
US avg: 6.6%
Finance & insurance4.3%
US avg: 5.5%
Public administration3.7%
US avg: 4.7%
Professional, scientific, technical3.4%
US avg: 4.7%
Transportation & warehousing2.1%
US avg: 2.5%
Arts, entertainment, food1.1%
US avg: 2%
Education & health services0.9%
US avg: 0.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.9%
US avg: 1.7%
Construction0.5%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0.4%
US avg: 0.5%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$133,500
+67%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $53,200 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$879
+19%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $490 in 2000
US average: $1,124
Owner-occupied
44.5%
−1.9 ptssince 2000
from 46.4% in 2000
55.5% rent
Afford Score
3.3
+63%since 2000
from 2.0 in 2000
1990 – 2024
RELATED:See current rent listings in Waco on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic51.1%(58,096)
Black22.4%(25,477)
Hispanic / Latino23.6%(26,885)
Asian1.4%(1,542)
Other0%
Diversity Score77.7%(88,334)
2020
White, non-Hispanic42.3%(58,644)
Black19.4%(26,844)
Hispanic / Latino31.7%(43,857)
Asian2.5%(3,525)
Other2%(2,835)
Diversity Score83.6%(115,734)
Diversity Score
84
+8%since 2000
from 78 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
25.4%
+6.8 ptssince 2000
from 18.6% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
82.3%
+10.6 ptssince 2000
from 71.6% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
Graduate degree
9.6%
+2.2 ptssince 2000
from 7.4% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
17.3 min
+53%since 2000
from 11.3 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
Drive alone to work
80.1%
+2.7 ptssince 2009
from 77.4% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
No vehicle available
8.6%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 9.0% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
4.6%
−4.5 ptssince 2011
from 9.1% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
Labor force participation
60.0%
−0.1 ptssince 2011
from 60.1% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Management & professional
32.2%
−29.0 ptssince 2009
from 61.2% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.4%
+0.9 ptssince 2009
from 47.5% in 2009
Female
51.6%
−0.9 ptssince 2009
from 52.5% in 2009
Foreign born
10.8%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 10.6% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
Uninsured
15.1%
−64.2 ptssince 2013
from 79.3% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Drill deeper

Places similar to Waco

Rockford
Pop 147,384
Springfield
Pop 154,702
Savannah
Pop 149,440
Macon-Bibb County
Pop 157,556
Places similar to Waco
Head to head

Compare Waco to nearby cities

WACO VS
Woodway
Income$115,108+185%
Home value$370,500+178%
Population9,753−93%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WACO VS
Bellmead
Income$52,075+29%
Home value$155,100+16%
Population10,592−93%
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WACO VS
Hewitt
Income$83,511+107%
Home value$273,300+105%
Population16,754−89%
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WACO VS
Robinson
Income$99,289+146%
Home value$302,200+126%
Population13,028−91%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Waco, Texas?

Waco, Texas has about 138,486 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Waco, Texas?

The typical household in Waco, Texas earns about $40,349 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Waco, Texas expensive?

In Waco, Texas, the median home is worth about $133,500, and the typical rent is about $879 a month.

How educated are people in Waco, Texas?

About 25.4% of adults age 25 and over in Waco, Texas hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Waco, Texas?

About 25.3% of people in Waco, Texas live below the federal poverty line.

Has Waco, Texas grown since 1990?

Yes, Waco, Texas has grown since 1990. The population has added about 34,896 residents, a change of about 34 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

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