Residential comparison · 13 facts
McAllen, TX vs Waco, TX
Compare the housing, tax, cost, income, safety, school, and climate facts that are available for both places. The table shows the numbers without declaring one city universally better.
A household earning $85,000 in McAllen needs about $88,000 in Waco to keep the same lifestyle.
Coming from Waco, $85,000 of lifestyle costs about $82,000 in McAllen.
A few differences
- McAllen is higher on median household income ($61,579 vs $54,365).
- McAllen is lower on cost of living index (83 vs 86).
- McAllen is lower on 2-bedroom rent ($1,063/mo vs $1,193/mo).
McAllen vs Waco · facet by facet
| Facet | McAllen, TX | Waco, TX |
|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $190,400 | $221,700 |
| 2-bedroom rent | $1,063/mo | $1,193/mo |
| Property tax rate | 1.68% | 1.68% |
| State & local income tax | 0% | 0% |
| Sales tax | 8.2% | 8.2% |
| Cost of living index | 83 | 86 |
| Groceries index | 96 | 96 |
| Utilities | $185/mo | $185/mo |
| Median household income | $61,579 | $54,365 |
| Unemployment rate | 4% | 4% |
| Crime index | 50/100 | 50/100 |
| School rating | 5.5/10 | 5.5/10 |
| Sunny days / year | 230 days | 230 days |
Data: Census ACS 2024 · BLS · Tax Foundation 2024 brackets · HUD/Zillow · NOAA 1991–2020 · FEMA NRI · Values are shown as reported; no universal winner is implied.
Full profiles: McAllen, TX · Waco, TX
Questions & answers
- Is McAllen cheaper than Waco?
- McAllen has the lower day-to-day cost index (83 vs 86 against a national 100). The other differences are shown facet by facet in the table.
- What household income in Waco equals $85,000 in McAllen?
- A household earning $85,000 in McAllen needs about $88,000 in Waco to keep the same lifestyle; coming the other way, $85,000 of Waco lifestyle costs about $82,000 in McAllen.