Urbandale, IA vs Waco, TX
Side-by-side comparison of housing, income, commute, safety, and quality of life.
Score Snapshot
No universal winner
Scores summarize the published model. Use the objective metric differences below and your own priorities to choose.
Urbandale
80.3
#85 nationally
Waco
77.1
#281 nationally
Urbandale leads in crime level (2.4 vs 11.7). Urbandale leads in median household income ($111,888 vs $47,421). Waco leads in cost of living index (93 vs 106).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Urbandale, IA | Waco, TX |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 80.3 (#85) | 77.1 (#281) |
| Population | 46,729 | 144,816 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $354,918 | $197,359 |
| Median Household Income | $111,888 | $47,421 |
| Average Commute | 19 min | 17.5 min |
| Walk Score | 32 | 35 |
| Crime Level | 2.4 | 11.7 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 106 | 93 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+10.9 | R+30.9 |
B-
80.3 Score
Urbandale, IA
Small Iowa city with local appeal
Median Home
$354,918
Population
46,729
Crime
Low
Walk Score
32
Midwest
View Urbandale, IA →
C+
77.1 Score
Waco, TX
Mid-size Texas city with community character
Median Home
$197,359
Population
144,816
Crime
Moderate-High
Walk Score
35
Southwest
View Waco, TX →