Rents are 9% below what Waco's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.
Rent by unit size
Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).
12-month history
Last updated: July 20, 2026
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Who lives here
Waco, TX is roughly split between renters and owners, skews toward younger working-age adults, has a median income below the national average, 28.7% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Waco, TX has changed in 5 years
Compared with 2021, rent in Waco, TX has climbed by $340 per month, settling near $1,369 after starting the period at $1,029. Household income in the area moved from $42,687 to $54,365 across the same window, up 27.4% versus 2021. Rent outpaced income growth by roughly 5.6 percentage points, which means renters are spending a larger slice of each paycheck on housing than they did in 2021. Headcount in the area went from 136,800 to 143,570 between 2021 and 2024, a 4.9% change. About 50.6% of households rent today, against 53.3% in 2021. Reading these numbers side by side helps frame whether current listings in Waco, TX look reasonable against where the market sat half a decade ago.
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Can you afford rent in Waco on your salary?
At $1,369/mo, how Waco rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Waco rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Waco. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Waco
Last updated: July 20, 2026
The median rent in Waco is $1,369/mo as of July 2026. A studio apartment averages $968/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,408/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,132/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,816/mo.
At 30% of local median household income ($54,365/yr), Waco ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 2.0% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
Is Waco an affordable city for renters?
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Which Waco neighborhoods have the lowest rent?
How does Waco rent compare to other cities in Texas?
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What percentage of Waco residents rent vs. own?
How does Waco rent compare to the national average?
At $1,369/mo, rent takes ~30% of Waco's median household income ($54,365/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
How does this area stack up?
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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