Lifestyle

Waco & Central Texas:

Nestled in the heart of Central Texas, Waco maintains small city living without sacrificing big-city opportunities and culture. Home of three higher-education schools and over 40 quality elementary and secondary schools, Waco is a great place to raise children and/or seek a college degree. Diversity serves Waco’s spiritual needs with multiple faiths and upwards of 30 denominations in more than 200 communities of worship.

There is always something to do in Waco with over 510 acres of public parkland, more than 325 restaurants, 36 tennis courts, 5 recreation centers, 8 golf courses, 10 health centers, 2 country clubs, 3 movie theaters, a water park, a zoo, a major athletic complex and multiple softball and little league fields to choose from. With 14 museums, a symphony orchestra, opera, and 2 theatres, and many outdoor music venues along the Brazos and Bosque Rivers, the arts don’t go forgotten in this city!

At the heart of Central Texas, Waco is located 90 miles central to Dallas/Fort Worth and Austin and only 180 miles northwest of Houston. The Waco Regional Airport and major highways, I-35 and HWY 6, make traveling to and from Waco direct and affordable.

Cost of Living:

Greater Waco touts an average home value of $89,331 and a homeownership rate of 60.2%. Looking to rent? The average monthly apartment rent is $660 a month. Compared to a cost of living index of 95.3 in Austin and an 89.7 in nearby Temple, Waco ranks an 87.9.

For more information on the cost of living in Waco, view this page brought to you by the Waco Chamber of Commerce or check out this cost of living calculator.

Climate:

Standing at 427 feet above sea level, Waco lies on the Grand Prairie and Blackland Prairie. It has a sub-tropical climate, averaging an annual 67.2º F and 33.33 inches of rainfall each year.

Average Low (December): 38.3º F
Record Low (January 1949): -5º F
Average High (July): 97º F
Record High (August 1969/September 2000): 112º F

Note: Climatic statistics provided by the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration.

Education Opportunities:

Fifteen thousand students K-12 in 30 Waco Independent School District schools receive a quality education, targeting a student-teacher ratio of 15:1. There are 19 other school districts in the surrounding cities and county. The area also includes more than a dozen private and parochial schools as well as 3 charter schools. The 20 area’s public school districts graduated 2,422 graduates in 2005.

Baylor University – Chartered in 1845 by the Republic of Texas, Baylor University is the largest Baptist institution worldwide. In the 2006 fall semester, Baylor enrolled almost 14,000 students and is offering 146 baccalaureate programs, 73 master’s programs, 22 doctoral programs, and various other programs.
McLennan Community College – Offering one- and two-year associate degrees, McLennan Community College offers workforce training and continuing education to over 8,500 students. MCC is a two-year community college that partners with four-year state universities in on-campus programs offering bachelor’s degrees through the University Center.
Texas State Technical College – Four-thousand plus students train in one- and two-year programs with an option of more than 100 Associate of Applied Science degrees or Certificates of Completions at Texas State Technical College.

Recreation & Arts: