Harker Heights vs Waco
Harker Heights, Texas versus Waco, Texas: a factual, side-by-side comparison of cost of living, housing, safety, schools, and climate. Greener figures rank better among US places.
Harker Heights edges out Waco on overall objective livability (52 vs 48 of 100), though each leads on different factors below.
Factor-by-factor comparison
| Factor | Harker Heights | Waco |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability | ||
| Median Household Income | $72k | $47k |
| Cost of Living | $44k | $44k |
| Home Value | $241k | $174k |
| Monthly Rent | $1k | $1k |
| Monthly Owner Costs | $2k | $2k |
| Property Tax Rate | 1.52% | 1.72% |
| Income Tax | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Sales Tax | 8.20% | 8.20% |
| Estimated total tax burden | 7.78% | 9.00% |
| Unemployment | 4.7% | 4.5% |
| Weather | ||
| Winter Temp (Jan) | 49°F | 47°F |
| Summer Temp (Jul) | 84°F | 85°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 37.4 in | 38.7 in |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0 in | 0.0 in |
| Sunny Days | 228 days | 266 days |
| Summer Humidity | 67°F | 69°F |
| Comfortable Days | 98 days | 84 days |
| Safety & Wellbeing | ||
| Natural Disaster Risk | 46.5 | 58.8 |
| Air Quality | 48 AQI | 46 AQI |
| School Quality | 42.9 | 53.2 |
| Violent Crime | 747/100k | 2285/100k |
| Property Crime | 1347/100k | 3238/100k |
| Community | ||
| Population | 33,036 | 140,545 |
| Median Age | 34.5 | 28.8 |
| Racial Diversity | 0.65 | 0.58 |
| Male/Female Ratio | 0.99 | 0.95 |
| Political Leaning | Even | R+24 |
| White (%) | 40.7% | 44.9% |
| Black (%) | 26.6% | 19.8% |
| Hispanic (%) | 21.7% | 30.4% |
| Asian (%) | 3.3% | 1.9% |
| Other / Multiracial (%) | 7.7% | 2.9% |
| Getting Around | ||
| Commute Time | 25 min | 18 min |
| Walkability | 7.7/20 | 7.9/20 |
| Airport Distance | 59 mi | 92 mi |
| Lifestyle & Connectivity | ||
| Broadband Access | 92.1% | 84.1% |
| Amenities Nearby | 17.56 | 15.16 |
| Park & Nature Access | Moderate | Limited |
Each figure is colored by how it ranks among all US places: green is strong, amber average, red weaker. Neutral factors (population, demographics, target-style climate) show their percentile without a better/worse claim.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Harker Heights or Waco more affordable?
- Waco has the lower cost of living: its index is $44k, compared with Harker Heights's $44k and Waco's $44k. Median rent is $1k in Harker Heights versus $1k in Waco.
- Is Harker Heights or Waco safer?
- Harker Heights has the lower violent crime rate. Harker Heights reports 747/100k and Waco reports 2285/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
- Are homes cheaper in Harker Heights or Waco?
- The median home value is $241k in Harker Heights and $174k in Waco, so homes are more affordable in Waco.