Jonesboro AR vs Waco TX — Cost of Living, Crime & Income Comparison 2026

Updated May 2026 · Source: US Census ACS 5-Year (2023), FBI CDE (2023), BLS OEWS (2024)

Jonesboro, AR

Arkansas · Population: N/A

Median HH IncomeN/A
Median Home Price$225,577
UnemploymentN/A
Bachelor's+N/A

Waco, TX

Texas · Population: 141,925

Median HH Income$51,468
Median Home Price$196,465
Unemployment4.4%
Bachelor's+28.6%

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population

Jonesboro

N/A

Waco

141,925

Pop. Density / sq mi

Lower = more space

Jonesboro

N/A

Waco

N/A

Median Age

Jonesboro

N/A

Waco

29.2

Foreign Born

Jonesboro

N/A

Waco

9.8%

White

Jonesboro

N/A

Waco

54.0%

Black

Jonesboro

N/A

Waco

20.4%

Asian

Jonesboro

N/A

Waco

2.0%

Hispanic

Jonesboro

N/A

Waco

29.9%

Spanish at Home

Jonesboro

N/A

Waco

N/A

Metric	Jonesboro, AR	Waco, TX	Better
Population	N/A	141,925	-
Pop. Density / sq miLower = more space	N/A	N/A	-
Median Age	N/A	29.2	-
Foreign Born	N/A	9.8%	-
White	N/A	54.0%	-
Black	N/A	20.4%	-
Asian	N/A	2.0%	-
Hispanic	N/A	29.9%	-
Spanish at Home	N/A	N/A	-

Economy

Median HH Income

Jonesboro

N/A

Waco

$51,468

Per Capita Income

Jonesboro

N/A

Waco

$28,819

Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)

BEA MSA-level

Jonesboro

$53,714

Waco

$63,758

Waco +

Unemployment Rate

Jonesboro

N/A

Waco

4.4%

Poverty Rate

Jonesboro

N/A

Waco

24.0%

Bachelor's Degree+

Jonesboro

N/A

Waco

28.6%

Metric	Jonesboro, AR	Waco, TX	Better
Median HH Income	N/A	$51,468	-
Per Capita Income	N/A	$28,819	-
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)BEA MSA-level	$53,714	$63,758	Waco +
Unemployment Rate	N/A	4.4%	-
Poverty Rate	N/A	24.0%	-
Bachelor's Degree+	N/A	28.6%	-

Housing

Median Home Value

Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS

Jonesboro

$225,577

Waco

$196,465

Waco +

Homeownership Rate

Jonesboro

N/A

Waco

48.9%

Metric	Jonesboro, AR	Waco, TX	Better
Median Home ValueZillow ZHVI / Census ACS	$225,577	$196,465	Waco +
Homeownership Rate	N/A	48.9%	-

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K

FBI CDE (state-level est.)

Jonesboro

660

Waco

442

Waco +

Property Crime / 100K

FBI CDE (state-level est.)

Jonesboro

2507

Waco

2339

Waco +

Metric	Jonesboro, AR	Waco, TX	Better
Violent Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.)	660	442	Waco +
Property Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.)	2507	2339	Waco +

Health

Obesity Rate

CDC PLACES

Jonesboro

39.2%

Waco

36.8%

Waco +

Diabetes Rate

CDC PLACES

Jonesboro

11.4%

Jonesboro +

Waco

13.0%

Poor Mental Health

CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month

Jonesboro

20.5%

Waco

20.4%

Waco +

No Health Insurance

CDC PLACES

Jonesboro

11.6%

Jonesboro +

Waco

20.4%

Binge Drinking

CDC PLACES

Jonesboro

15.1%

Jonesboro +

Waco

16.2%

Current Smokers

CDC PLACES

Jonesboro

15.7%

Waco

15.1%

Waco +

Metric	Jonesboro, AR	Waco, TX	Better
Obesity RateCDC PLACES	39.2%	36.8%	Waco +
Diabetes RateCDC PLACES	11.4%	13.0%	Jonesboro +
Poor Mental HealthCDC PLACES — 14+ days/month	20.5%	20.4%	Waco +
No Health InsuranceCDC PLACES	11.6%	20.4%	Jonesboro +
Binge DrinkingCDC PLACES	15.1%	16.2%	Jonesboro +
Current SmokersCDC PLACES	15.7%	15.1%	Waco +

Climate

Avg Annual Temp

NOAA 1991–2020 normal

Jonesboro

59.2°F

Jonesboro +

Waco

66.6°F

Annual Precipitation

NOAA 1991–2020 normal

Jonesboro

48.2 in

Waco

36.4 in

Waco +

Metric	Jonesboro, AR	Waco, TX	Better
Avg Annual TempNOAA 1991–2020 normal	59.2°F	66.6°F	Jonesboro +
Annual PrecipitationNOAA 1991–2020 normal	48.2 in	36.4 in	Waco +

Air Quality

PM2.5 Annual Avg

EPA AQS (state-level est.)

Jonesboro

9.5 µg/m³

Waco

9.2 µg/m³

Waco +

Good Air Days

AQI ≤ 50

Jonesboro

55.0%

Waco

55.0%

Tie

Metric	Jonesboro, AR	Waco, TX	Better
PM2.5 Annual AvgEPA AQS (state-level est.)	9.5 µg/m³	9.2 µg/m³	Waco +
Good Air DaysAQI ≤ 50	55.0%	55.0%	Tie

Commute

Mean Commute Time

Census ACS

Jonesboro

N/A

Waco

19.7 min

Metric	Jonesboro, AR	Waco, TX	Better
Mean Commute TimeCensus ACS	N/A	19.7 min	-

Which City is Right for You?

Waco offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $196,465. On public safety, Waco is safer with a violent crime rate of 442 per 100,000 residents, compared to 660 in Jonesboro. Waco has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 9.2 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Waco scores better with a lower obesity rate of 36.8%.

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About Jonesboro & Waco

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