Central Texas · Relocation Guide
Living in Waco, Texas
The numbers, the neighborhoods and the good stuff, from a local REALTOR
The numbers, the neighborhoods and the good stuff, from a local REALTOR
Waco sits on the Brazos River in the middle of the I-35 corridor, about an hour and a half from both Dallas and Austin. People move here for room to breathe: homes cost less than in the big metros, Texas has no state income tax, and the city has a university-town energy thanks to Baylor, McLennan Community College and TSTC.
It is also a fun place to live. There’s a 416-acre city park with river cliffs and trails, a nationally known zoo, a national monument built around a mammoth herd, Saturday mornings at the farmers market and fall Saturdays at McLane Stadium. And the Silos keep downtown busy.
I’m Loni Jones, a REALTOR with Niche Real Estate, licensed since 2008. I help buyers across Central Texas find the right fit, from a home in Woodway or Hewitt to acreage outside China Spring or Gatesville. I put this guide together with sources for every number, so you can share it with the people you’re moving with.
Home values are Census survey figures for owner-occupied homes, not today’s asking prices. For current prices in a specific neighborhood, ask Loni for recent sales.
A starter list. For events and more ideas, see the Greater Waco Chamber’s attractions page and Destination Waco.
A Waco tradition since 2011, with farmers, ranchers, bakers and makers who grow or make their goods within 150 miles. The market is now on Bridge Street Plaza in East Waco, just across the Brazos from downtown.
| When | Saturdays, year-round, 9am–1pm |
| Summer | 9am–noon in July & August |
| Where | 200 E. Bridge St., Waco |
Hours and seasons change. Check each official site before you go.
Many people who work in Waco live just outside it, in a suburb with its own school district or on a few acres out in the country. Here’s a quick look at the places buyers ask Loni about most.
Whether you want a house near Baylor, a family home in Woodway or acreage in the county, Loni can help you compare areas, schools and taxes before you make an offer.
Moving with family or a partner? Send them this guide so you’re all looking at the same information.
Figures are from the sources listed, with years noted, and were checked November 2026. Tax rates, utility fees, and attraction hours and seasons change; confirm with the source. Information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.
Waco Suspension Bridge photo: “Suspension Bridge” by diveofficer (Flickr), CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons; resized.