Neighborhood in Waco, McLennan County

Living in Southwest Waco, Waco

C

4th of 10areas in Waco
Overall score 42 of 100 vs Texas neighborhoods
Waco overall: F

Southwest Waco covers part of Waco, TX, home to about 15,000 people. It gets a C, around the middle of Texas neighborhoods, and ranks 4th of 10 areas we score in Waco. It does best on getting around and worst on home ownership.

  • Short commutes
  • Home ownership scores low (13 of 100)
  • Tornado risk is very high

Closest everyday places

Grocery store0.7 mi
Pharmacy0.6 mi
Park0.4 mi
Cafe0.7 mi
Restaurant0.3 mi
Gym0.5 mi
Hospital or urgent care0.4 mi
Childcare0.6 mi
Library1.6 mi

Straight-line distance from the middle of where people live. Overture Maps.

Population
14,950
Median rent
$1,290
Median home value
$263,000
Household income
$65,500
Average commute
16 min
Homes owned
40%
Loading map

What it's like to live in Southwest Waco

Southwest Waco is an area in Waco with about 15,000 residents, homes built around 1980, a mix of owners and renters and 26% of households with children.

Our grade for Southwest Waco is C. That puts it 4th of 10 areas we grade in Waco, a city that gets an F overall.

Pros of living in Southwest Waco

  • Groceries close by. The nearest grocery store is about 0.7 miles from the middle of the neighborhood.
  • Parks within walking distance. The closest park is about 0.4 miles away.

Cons of living in Southwest Waco

  • Lower-rated schools nearby. Only 2 of the 3 closest public schools are rated A or B.
  • Natural hazard risk. FEMA rates the risk of tornadoes, heat waves and hail as very high in this part of town.

Southwest Waco report card

Each grade compares Southwest Waco with every neighborhood in Texas. Safety is not graded for single neighborhoods because police report crime for the whole city.

  • Cost of living: grade C

    Median rent $1,290, homes cost 4.0x income.

    45 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Jobs and income: grade C-

    Median household income $65,500, 3.0% unemployed.

    35 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Schools: grade D

    Nearby schools average 74 of 100 on the state rating.

    23 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Safety: no grade

    Citywide, 414 violent crimes per 100k, 1,799 property crimes per 100k.

    No score vs TX areas

  • Errands and things to do: grade B-

    Most everyday stores and services within a mile of homes.

    59 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Getting around: grade A-

    Average commute 16 min, 9.3% work from home.

    86 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Education levels: grade B-

    33% have a bachelor’s degree.

    59 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Health: grade C-

    15% of adults uninsured.

    36 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Home ownership: grade D-

    40% of homes owner-occupied.

    13 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Internet access: grade D+

    88% of homes have broadband.

    32 of 100 vs TX areas

Southwest Waco compared with Waco

Better than Waco

  • People below the poverty line: 14%9 points lower than Waco (23%)
  • Median household income: $65,50020% higher than Waco ($54,365)
  • Adults 18 to 64 without health insurance: 15%6 points lower than Waco (20%)

Worse than Waco

  • Homes owned by the people living in them: 40%9 points lower than Waco (49%)
  • Median rent: $1,29011% higher than Waco ($1,165)
  • Workers who walk, bike or take transit: 1.9%2 points lower than Waco (3.7%)

Closest public schools

Texas Education Agency 2025 ratings. Check the attendance zone for any address with the district.

  • AChapel Park ElementaryElementary, Midway ISD0.3 mi
  • CMidway MiddleMiddle, Midway ISD0.5 mi
  • AMidway High SchoolHigh, Midway ISD0.7 mi

Cost of living in Southwest Waco

Median rent in Southwest Waco is $1,290 a month, 11% higher than the Waco median. A household would need about $52,000 a year to keep that rent at 30% of income.

The median home is worth $263,000, 19% higher than the Waco median, which means a monthly payment of about $1,761 with property tax at today's mortgage rates.

MeasureHereWacoTexas
Median rent11% higher than Waco$1,290$1,165$1,403
Median home value19% higher than Waco$263,000$221,700$283,800
Home value to incomeAbout the same as Waco4.0x4.1x3.6x
Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent5 points lower than Waco53%58%52%
Homes owned by the people living in them9 points lower than Waco40%49%63%
Vacant homesAbout the same as Waco12%12%9.4%
Median year homes were builtAbout the same as Waco198019791992

Monthly cost to buy a median home

$1,761
Mortgage payment
$1,440
Property tax
$321
Median rent, for comparison
$1,290

Based on a $263,000 home in Southwest Waco, 20% down and a 30-year loan at 7.28% (Freddie Mac average, week of 2026-10-01). Property tax is the median for the surrounding Census tract, or the county where that is not published. Insurance and fees are not included.

Work, income and getting around

MeasureHereWacoTexas
Median household income20% higher than Waco$65,500$54,365$78,476
Unemployment rate2 points lower than Waco3.0%4.6%5.3%
People below the poverty line9 points lower than Waco14%23%14%
Adults with a bachelor's degree or higher4 points higher than Waco33%29%34%
Average commute12% lower than Waco16 min19 min27 min
Workers who work from homeAbout the same as Waco9.3%9.7%14%
Workers who walk, bike or take transit2 points lower than Waco1.9%3.7%2.6%
Homes with broadband internetAbout the same as Waco88%89%91%

Natural hazard risk

FEMA National Risk Index for the Census tracts in this area.

  • River floodingModerate
  • HurricanesHigh
  • TornadoesVery high
  • HailVery high
  • Heat wavesVery high
  • WildfiresHigh
  • Winter stormsModerate
  • Strong windModerate

Who lives in Southwest Waco

Under 1820%
18 to 3425%
35 to 6430%
65 and over24%
Race and ethnicity
White55%
Hispanic or Latino21%
Black17%
Asian1.9%
Other or more than one race4.3%

Shown for information only. It is never part of any grade.

Other neighborhoods in Waco

  1. 1A-West WacoMedian rent $1,470
  2. 2B-Northwest WacoMedian rent $1,530
  3. 3B-Callan VillageMedian rent $1,760
  4. 5D+South WacoMedian rent $1,310
  5. 6D-Central WacoMedian rent $1,120
  6. 7D-Southeast WacoMedian rent $1,410
  7. 8D-North WacoMedian rent $790
  8. 9FNortheast WacoMedian rent $990

Similar neighborhoods in other cities

Areas elsewhere in Texas with the closest mix of grades.

  1. C-SouthtownSan Antonio
  2. C-South Texas Medical CenterSan Antonio
  3. DNorth KerrvilleKerrville

Questions about Southwest Waco

Is Southwest Waco a good place to live?

Southwest Waco covers part of Waco, TX, home to about 15,000 people. It gets a C, around the middle of Texas neighborhoods, and ranks 4th of 10 areas we score in Waco. It does best on getting around and worst on home ownership.

How much does it cost to live in Southwest Waco?

Renters in Southwest Waco pay a median of $1,290 a month, 11% higher than the Waco median. The median home is worth $263,000, 19% higher than the Waco median. A median home costs 4.0x the median household income, compared with 4.1x across Waco.

What schools serve Southwest Waco?

The closest rated public schools are Chapel Park Elementary (elementary, rated A), Midway Middle (middle, rated C) and Midway High School (high, rated A). School zones can differ from the closest school, so check with the district.

This area groups 10 Census block groups in this part of Waco that have no neighborhood name on the map. Sources: US Census Bureau 2020-2024 ACS 5-year, CDC PLACES 2025, Texas Education Agency, FEMA National Risk Index, Overture Maps. How we grade.