First post here. I relocated for work and Crime rate is something to consider — Waco sits at 571.2 per 100K. Household incomes average around $51,468 in Waco. It's changing fast — some good, some not so much. Am I overthinking this? The weather takes some getting used to.
36 upvotes
15 Replies
Sophia G.
Came here for work and stayed because I'm still on the fence after all this time. The community vibe is honestly surprisingly good and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
40 upvotes
Addison Clark
Moved here from San Diego about 6 years ago. I love the pace of life here. Still getting used to school system but Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
39 upvotes
Julia Hughes
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a data analyst who relocated here from Minneapolis about 5 years ago. The main reasons were my partner's job and retirement.
Pros I've experienced:
- Friendly community, easy to meet people
- Lots of new development happening
- Four distinct seasons
Cons that are real:
- Limited public transit options
- Summers can be brutally hot
Financially, we've found it challenging compared to where we came from. Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable. Groceries are stable, gas is decent.
Socially, it's improved dramatically in recent years. Feel free to reach out with questions..
34 upvotes
isabella_runner
Came here for work and stayed because it's not perfect but it works for me. The job market is honestly underrated and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
34 upvotes
Harper Sanchez
yeah no that's not right
29 upvotes
Alice W.
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem hit or miss.
I've been here 15 years and the quality of life is solid. The thing nobody mentions is traffic. It's stable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the safety is legit. And if you're into photography, this place is better than expected.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Old Town side vs the Fairview side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Would recommend to anyone considering it..
28 upvotes
Aaron R.
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 15 years ago from San Francisco and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: If you look outside the main areas you can find deals. We're paying /mo for a 1-bed in East. It's underrated for what you get.
Jobs: The market is growing right now, especially in engineering. If you're in hospitality you might struggle.
People: Generally improving. It took about 9 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: better than expected. Tons of options if you like BBQ.
Happy to answer more specific questions..
27 upvotes
Kennedy G.
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 9 years ago from New York and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Older homes are where the value is. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in Oak Park. It's excellent for what you get.
Jobs: The market is growing right now, especially in legal. If you're in legal you might struggle.
People: Generally pretty good. It took about 6 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: pretty good. Tons of options if you like Mexican.
It's not for everyone but it works for us..
18 upvotes
Kinsley Brown
seconding this
8 upvotes
Kinsley Allen
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 5 years ago from Tampa and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable. We're paying /mo for a 3-bed in Meadowbrook. It's underrated for what you get.
Jobs: The market is reasonable right now, especially in retail. If you're in education you might struggle.
People: Generally pretty good. It took about 18 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: excellent. Tons of options if you like Korean.
Happy to answer more specific questions..
8 upvotes
Hannah
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, it's improved dramatically in recent years. Definitely worth checking out..
7 upvotes
Liam Morris
I'd say the biggest thing people don't talk about is food scene. it exceeded my expectations. Worth doing your research before committing.
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