Tucson vs Waco
The short version
- Waco is cheaper overall: prices in its metro run 4% lower than in the Tucson area (BEA 2024).
- The median home costs $221,700 in Waco and $266,200 in Tucson.
- Tucson has the warmer winter: January highs of 67°F vs 59°F.
- Tucson has more scorching days: 158 a year at 90°F or hotter vs 115.
- Waco is growing faster: +5.5% since 2020 vs +1.1%.
- Commutes are shorter in Waco (19 vs 22 minutes each way).
- Texas has no state income tax on wages; Arizona's top rate is 2.5%.
Side by side
| Tucson, AZ | Waco, TX | |
|---|---|---|
| People | ||
| Population (2025) | 548,371 | 147,788 |
| Growth since 2020 | +1.1% | +5.5% |
| People per square mile | 2,264 | 1,624 |
| Median age | 34.6 | 29.7 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 31% | 29% |
| Money and housing | ||
| Median household income | $57,073 | $54,365 |
| Median home value | $266,200 | $221,700 |
| Home value to income | 4.7× | 4.1× |
| Median rent (with utilities) | $1,145 | $1,165 |
| Metro price level (US = 100) | 96.9 | 92.6 |
| Housing price level (US = 100) | 91.8 | 83.5 |
| $75,000 elsewhere equals | $72,700 | $69,400 |
| Homeowners | 52% | 49% |
| Top state income tax | 2.5% | None |
| Combined sales tax | 8.54% | 8.2% |
| Work and commute | ||
| Average commute (minutes) | 21.9 | 18.7 |
| Work from home | 14% | 10% |
| Take public transit | 2% | 1% |
| Unemployment (2020-24 avg) | 6.2% | 4.6% |
| Poverty rate | 18.9% | 23.1% |
| Weather | ||
| January high / low | 67° / 41° | 59° / 36° |
| July high / low | 100° / 76° | 97° / 74° |
| Precipitation per year | 11 in | 36 in |
| Snowfall per year | 0 in | 1 in |
| Days 90°F or hotter | 158 | 115 |
| Nights below freezing | 12 | 34 |
| Comfortable months | 4 | 5 |
| Risks, air and home prices | ||
| Natural hazard risk (FEMA, county) | Relatively High | Relatively Moderate |
| FEMA risk score (lower is safer) | 99.1 | 91.2 |
| Good air days, 2025 | 34% | 47% |
| Home prices, past year | +1.9% | +1% |
| Home prices, past 5 years | +39.5% | +36.7% |
Highlighted cells are the better value where "better" is clear (lower prices, higher income, shorter commutes). Sources: Census Bureau 2025 estimates and ACS 2020-2024, BEA 2024, NOAA 1991-2020, Tax Foundation 2026.
Weather, month by month
Most comfortable months: Tucson: February to April and November. Waco: March to May and October to November.
Full monthly tables: Tucson weather by month and Waco weather by month.
What $75,000 is worth
A $75,000 salary in an average-priced US city buys about the same as $72,700 in Tucson and $69,400 in Waco. Moving from Tucson to Waco, you would need about $71,600 to match a $75,000 salary.
Which would you pick?
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