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Waco

With it’s low-traffic volume, abundance of city parks and amenities and strong housing marketing, Waco is great place to call home. The population in the Waco area is close to a quarter-million people and growing. The past several years have brought new shopping and restaurant options to the city and more are planned for the coming year.

The promise of new development along the river has locals excited about the city’s future. With the recent additions of Baylor University’s McLane Stadium, Magnolia Market and the Balcones Distillery bringing national exposure to the city of Waco, city leaders and influencers are working to develop a “Riverwalk” along the Brazos that will potentially bring retail, restaurant and entertainment venues together along the Brazos River.

The “Brazos Commons” has received approval for millions of dollars in public support for its riverfront development project along the Brazos. Developers are slated to begin construction of the mixed-use project in the next year, which will include retail and residential space and an 11-story hotel that includes 8,000 square feet of conference space and a rooftop bar.

All this activity is creating a more inviting, competitive environment which is attracting a wider array of development, including high-end shopping and dining, the arts, entertainment, hotels, offices, residences and green spaces. Click below to discover more about Waco!

Transportation

The Greater Waco area’s success is due in part to its central location and easy access along the Interstate 35 corridor between Dallas and Austin. This great location makes the transportation of goods, services and people simple and cost-effective.

Quick Facts about Waco's Transportation

  • Dallas and Austin are within 90 miles (1.5-hour drive time) of Waco
  • Houston and San Antonio are within 185 miles (3-hour drive time) of Waco
  • There are four international and seven regional airports within 200 miles
  • Three local airports, which include the Waco Regional Airport, Texas State Technical College Industrial Airport and McGregor Executive Airport
  • Four international airports nearby include Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, George Bush Intercontinental Airport, and San Antonio International Airport
  • Three rail systems, which include Burlington Northern/Santa Fe (Class I mainline), Union Pacific (Class I mainline) and Amtrak
  • Eight seaports are within 280 miles and two inland ports are within 90 miles
  • Robust air and ground freight access to international, national and state carriers, including UPS, FedEx, and Lone Star Overnight

Waco Regional Airport

The airport features free parking, 30-minute loading and unloading options, fast security screening and four on-site rental car companies. As a regional airport, travelers find their drive to the airport convenient and less stressful than commuting to more distant airports. Find out more information here!

Waco Transit System

The Waco Transit System provides safe and reliable public transportation to the citizens of Waco and the surrounding communities. Services include a fixed route bus service within the city of Waco, the Baylor University Shuttle (BUS) and a van for individuals with special transportation needs. Find out more information here!

Education

A full range of educational opportunities abound throughout the Greater Waco area for all ages and grade levels. In McLennan County alone there are 20 school districts, four charter schools and 11 private schools with a collective student population of 47,255. The area also has more than a dozen private and parochial schools.

Primary Education

  • Waco Independent School District (Waco ISD) is the largest district in the county with more than 16,000 students on 26 campuses. 

  • Greater Waco Advanced Manufacturing Academy (GWAMA) is a public, business-and-industry-led magnet high school that serves 11th and 12th-grade students seeking to access rigorous and engaging coursework and high-quality instruction in science, technology, engineering and mathematics as well as employ-ability skills.

  • Greater Waco Advanced Health Care Academy (GWAHCA) is comprised of junior and senior level students from numerous Waco area school districts who take extensive coursework in nursing, medical equipment technology and soft skills needed by local healthcare employers.

  • ESC Region 12 is one of 20 regional education service centers statewide, Education Service Center Region 12 offers training and expert assistance to educators and school personnel to increase student achievement. 

Higher Education

  • Baylor University is a private Christian university and a nationally ranked research institution, located on 735 acres along the Brazos River and near downtown Waco. 

  • Texas State Technical College Waco (TSTC) was founded in 1965 with a mission to provide an educated, skilled workforce that can meet today’s – and tomorrow’s – labor market demands.

  • McLennan Community College is a public two-year college that offers general two-year associate degrees as well as one- and two-year specialized training that prepares you to go straight into the workforce. 

  • Texas Tech at Waco provides the ability to complete core curriculum requirements with McLennan Community College and upper-level requirements with Texas Tech University, without leaving Waco. 

  • Tarleton State University - Waco serves over 1,000 students in 30 undergraduate, graduate and certificate programs at the McLennan Community College University Center. 

Employment

Waco is a great place to work. The city and surrounding area have strong industries in healthcare, logistics, aerospace, advanced manufacturing and hospitality. Forbes magazine ranked Waco in its top 100 cities in the nation for job growth.

With an unemployment rate of less than 4 percent and growing businesses, the city offers great opportunities for someone in any stage of their career. It’s a great place to live for post-military life, according to USAA magazine. Waco ranked on its list of top places to find jobs and affordable housing after military retirement. In addition, the local workforce has access to more than 30,000 college students across three local college campuses, providing an abundant and diverse workforce pool.

Job retention and recruitment are on the rise in Waco. Given the strength and diversity of Greater Waco’s economic base and the community’s growth and stability, Waco’s current unemployment rates remain below state and national averages while labor force and employment continue to show positive trends.

Waco’s prime location has played a key role in its success attracting new businesses and expanding existing companies. The city has a diverse mix of industries and a highly-skilled professional and technical workforce primed for innovation and future growth.

Diverse Economy and Trained Workforce

Within the Greater Waco area, the combination of local industries is well-balanced with no single industry representing more than 20 percent of the regional market. Compared to state and national averages, Waco is strong in manufacturing, healthcare, education and financial services.

Waco has a labor force of 117,653 with a regional outreach of 307,366,  which allows employers to acquire talent for their businesses while operating in a region with a low cost of living.

A healthy workforce requires strong education partners too. Waco’s five institutions of higher learning provide a direct workforce pipeline and the continued training programs to provide opportunities for current employees to remain up-to-date.

As a part of Waco’s education and business opportunities, the Baylor Research and Innovation Collaborative (BRIC) is a groundbreaking partnership that brings together private industry and workforce development under one roof. The BRIC is the first project to be accomplished in the Central Texas Technology and Research Park and houses a variety of engineering, research and other advanced technology disciplines. The BRIC also features space and opportunities for private industries to partner in research and product commercialization through direct partnerships or through its Innovative Business Accelerator.

Healthcare

When looking for compassionate health care from trusted physicians, the city of Waco has you covered. No matter where you live in the greater Waco area, quality is just around the corner.

Two non-profit acute-care hospitals, Providence Healthcare Network and Baylor Scott & White Medical Center – Hillcrest, offer state-of-the-art, full-service facilities for inpatient and outpatient care. In fact, Baylor Scott & White – Hillcrest includes a cancer center that is designed to provide accessible, quality care locally. Greater Waco’s healthcare sector also includes Scott & White clinics supported by Scott & White Memorial Hospital in Temple, Texas.

The Family Health Center provides basic care for reduced fees, and the Central Texas Veterans Health System operates a VA Hospital in Waco.

As the Greater Waco population grows and its residents get older, the healthcare community continues to grow with it. For healthcare professionals, this also means employment opportunities abound.

Baylor Scott & White Medical Center - Hillcrest is the Waco area’s leading trauma facility, the only Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, and is home to the most comprehensive cancer center in the area. The Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility (IRF) at Baylor Scott & White – Hillcrest is the most comprehensive IRF between Georgetown and Dallas.  The Southwest Sports Medicine specialists at BSW – Hillcrest are the team physicians for Baylor Athletics and serve athletes of all ages as well.

Providence Healthcare Network is a member of Ascension–the largest non-profit health system in the U.S and the world’s largest Catholic health system–Providence Healthcare Network is dedicated to spiritually-centered, holistic care, which sustains and improves the health of individuals and communities. Beginning in 1905 as Waco’s first hospital, Providence is now one of the community’s largest employers, offering a comprehensive continuum of care to Greater Waco.

Family Health Center is a federally qualified health center with 14 locations throughout the Heart of Texas whose vision is “To improve the wellness of the underserved and vulnerable residents of the Heart of Texas by providing effective access to high quality comprehensive primary healthcare and by educating tomorrow’s Family Physicians and other healthcare professionals." 

Doris Miller Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center is a major referral facility for acute, intermediate and long-term psychiatric care for veterans. The facility is part of the Central Texas Veterans Health Care System, which also includes a hospital in Temple and outpatient clinics in Austin and five other communities.

Recreation

From hiking trails and water sports to athletic events and shopping, there’s always something fun to do in Waco.

Located right along two river-fronts, Waco’s Cameron Park is one of the largest municipal parks in Texas. The beautiful park features towering trees, breathtaking cliffs and a National Recreation Trail system. For more than 100 years, the 416-acre park has been constantly abuzz with parties, festivals and sports. And the relatively mild climate in Central Texas makes an active lifestyle easy.

Waco’s cultural opportunities offer a wide spectrum of engaging learning opportunities for learners and visitors of all ages. The city is home to multiple arts organizations that stage both theatrical and musical productions and art exhibits. It also features several museums and historical homes that bring the history of Waco to life.

Click here for a list of fun things to do in Waco!

Faith

Like much of the South, Waco has a strong religious community that dates back generations. The First United Methodist Church and First Baptist Church of Waco both trace their origins to the earliest pioneer days started in 1850 and 1851 respectively. 

The religious landscape in Waco today is diverse. More than 200 places of worship representing more than 30 denominations and faiths offer services from traditional to contemporary.

Faith-based organizations in Waco focus on reaching out to the elderly, hungry and impoverished populations. Started in 1992, Mission Waco is a faith-based non-profit whose mission is to provide holistic, relationship-based programs that empower the poor and marginalized and seek ways to overcome the systemic issues of social injustice which oppress the poor and marginalized.

For more information, please see our Membership Directory for our list of member places of worship throughout Greater Waco. 

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For information about relocating to Waco, be sure to check out our Community and Referral Guide or call 254-757-5600.