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METRO AREA · 2020 ACS

Waco Metro

Waco, TX · 3 counties · 295,782 residents · 2,785.156 sq mi
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The short version

Waco has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $49,883. Population has grown 19% since 2000. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $147,291.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Younger
median age 36.0
US median: 38.8
Less educated
24% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Less affordable
home values up 53%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
295,782
+19%since 2000
from 249,297 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
106 / sq mi
+19%since 2000
from 90 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 280
Median age
36.0
+9%since 2000
from 32.9 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
214K238K262K286K310K1990201020202024Waco
2024302K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$49,883
Unchangedinflation adjusted, since 2000
from $33,083 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$26,649
+57%since 2000
from $16,980 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
34.2%
+12.0 ptssince 2009
from 22.2% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
Poverty rate
18.6%
+1.0 ptssince 2000
from 17.6% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Information12.6%
US avg: 11.1%
Retail trade11.3%
US avg: 10%
Wholesale trade7.8%
US avg: 6.7%
Other services5.9%
US avg: 6.6%
Finance & insurance5.8%
US avg: 5.5%
Professional, scientific, technical4.3%
US avg: 4.7%
Public administration4.1%
US avg: 4.7%
Transportation & warehousing2.8%
US avg: 2.5%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1.7%
US avg: 1.7%
Education & health services1.5%
US avg: 0.8%
Arts, entertainment, food1.2%
US avg: 2%
Construction1.2%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0.5%
US avg: 0.5%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$147,291
+53%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $64,167 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$859
+18%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $483 in 2000
US average: $1,124
Owner-occupied
60.4%
−1.9 ptssince 2000
from 62.3% in 2000
39.6% rent
Afford Score
3.0
+52%since 2000
from 1.9 in 2000
1990 – 2024
RELATED:See current rent listings in Waco on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic65.3%(162,879)
Black15%(37,449)
Hispanic / Latino17.4%(43,278)
Asian0.9%(2,275)
Other0%
Diversity Score63.4%(157,968)
Segregation Score0%
2020
White, non-Hispanic54.8%(162,021)
Black13.6%(40,082)
Hispanic / Latino25.7%(75,873)
Asian1.7%(5,004)
Other2.3%(6,711)
Diversity Score74.8%(221,326)
Segregation Score40.7%(120,326)
Diversity Score
75
+18%since 2000
from 63 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
41
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
23.9%
+5.8 ptssince 2000
from 18.1% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
85.1%
+9.3 ptssince 2000
from 75.8% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
Graduate degree
8.6%
+1.8 ptssince 2000
from 6.8% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
20.8 min
+53%since 2000
from 13.6 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
Drive alone to work
82.3%
+2.1 ptssince 2009
from 80.2% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
No vehicle available
6.1%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 6.7% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
4.8%
−2.6 ptssince 2011
from 7.4% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
Labor force participation
60.0%
−1.4 ptssince 2011
from 61.3% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Management & professional
32.3%
−28.4 ptssince 2009
from 60.7% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.7%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 48.7% in 2009
Female
51.3%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 51.3% in 2009
Foreign born
8.3%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 7.8% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
Uninsured
14.5%
−66.6 ptssince 2013
from 81.1% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
In this metro

Principal cities

WacoCENTRAL147,788
What's inside

3 component counties

McLennan CountyCENTRAL272,020Bosque County18,918Falls County17,869
Drill deeper

Metros similar to Waco

Longview
Pop 297,315
Merced
Pop 297,260
South Bend
Pop 324,538
Roanoke
Pop 316,547
Places similar to Waco
Head to head

Compare Waco side by side

WACO VS
Longview
Income$66,775+34%
Home value$186,821+27%
Population297,315−4%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WACO VS
Merced
Income$65,510+31%
Home value$391,800+166%
Population297,260−4%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WACO VS
South Bend
Income$67,435+35%
Home value$196,800+34%
Population324,538+5%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WACO VS
Roanoke
Income$70,385+41%
Home value$244,820+66%
Population316,547+3%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Waco, TX?

Waco, TX has about 295,782 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Waco, TX?

The typical household in Waco, TX earns about $49,883 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Waco, TX expensive?

In Waco, TX, the median home is worth about $147,291, and the typical rent is about $859 a month.

How educated are people in Waco, TX?

About 23.9% of adults age 25 and over in Waco, TX hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Waco, TX?

About 18.6% of people in Waco, TX live below the federal poverty line.

Has Waco, TX grown since 1990?

Yes, Waco, TX has grown since 1990. The population has added about 73,822 residents, a change of about 33 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · METRO ROLLUP OF COMPONENT COUNTIES · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →