Waco, TX Crime Map

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions About Waco, TX Crime & Safety (2026)

Is Waco, TX safe in 2026?

Yes, Waco earns an overall city-wide safety rating of B (Safe) in 2026. Of the 26 neighborhoods analyzed, 81% carry an A or B grade — meaning the vast majority of the city falls into the safe category. Specifically, 8 neighborhoods (30.8%) earned an A-range grade and 13 neighborhoods (50%) earned a B-range grade. No neighborhood in Waco received a D or F rating, which is a meaningful indicator of citywide stability. Areas like North Lake Waco (A+), Mountainview (A), and Kendrick (A-) anchor the city's strong safety profile, while even the lower-rated neighborhoods — Carver and Brook Oaks, both graded C- — remain well above the worst tiers seen in many comparable Texas cities.

What is the crime rate in Waco, TX?

Waco's overall crime grade is a C at the city level, which reflects the fact that crime is unevenly distributed — concentrated in a handful of neighborhoods while the majority of the city is considerably safer. The city-wide safety rating of B captures this nuance: 81% of Waco's 26 analyzed neighborhoods are graded A or B, and 0% are graded D or F. Only 5 neighborhoods (19.2%) fall into the C range, including Downtown, East Riverside, Oakwood, Brook Oaks, and Carver. Property crime — including theft and burglary — tends to drive elevated grades in those corridors, particularly around the Downtown and East Riverside areas. Waco's population of 186,695 and a poverty rate of 25.3% do contribute to crime pressure in lower-income pockets, but the data shows that most residents live in neighborhoods that score well above the city average.

What are the safest neighborhoods in Waco, TX?

The ten safest neighborhoods in Waco based on 2026 crime data are:

1. North Lake Waco — A+: The city's top-rated neighborhood, with a median household income of $87,065 and a population of 4,493. It consistently posts the lowest crime indicators in all of Waco.
2. Mountainview — A: A close second, with a median income of $79,737 and 4,315 residents. Excellent safety across all crime categories.
3. Timbercrest — A-: A smaller community of 1,718 with a median income of $56,712 and strong safety metrics.
4. Kendrick — A-: One of the larger safe neighborhoods at 8,068 residents and a median income of $49,974.
5. Parkdale Viking Hills — A-: 6,415 residents with a median income of $53,908 and an A- crime grade.
6. Beverly Hills — A-: A smaller enclave of 1,539 residents with a median income of $39,575, punching above its income tier in safety.
7. Landon Branch — A-: 5,092 residents and a median income of $63,011, one of the stronger mid-size safe neighborhoods.
8. Baylor — A-: The largest A-range neighborhood at 11,232 residents, though its median income of $19,418 reflects its large student population near Baylor University.
9. Lacy Lakeview — B+: 4,712 residents with a median income of $48,989 and a solid B+ safety grade.
10. Austin Avenue — B+: 2,195 residents, a median income of $62,770, and a B+ grade rounding out the top ten.

Together, these neighborhoods represent a wide range of income levels and community sizes, demonstrating that safety in Waco is not limited to the wealthiest areas alone.

Which neighborhoods in Waco have higher crime?

Five neighborhoods in Waco carry a C-range crime grade in 2026, accounting for 19.2% of all analyzed neighborhoods. These are:

• Carver — C-: The lowest-graded neighborhood in the city, though still a C- rather than a D or F.
• Brook Oaks — C-: Tied with Carver for the lowest grade, with elevated property and violent crime indicators relative to the rest of Waco.
• Downtown — C: Urban core activity contributes to a C grade, driven largely by property crime and public-order incidents typical of dense commercial districts.
• East Riverside — C: A C-grade area where residents should exercise standard urban precautions, particularly after dark.
• Oakwood — C+: The mildest of the higher-crime areas, sitting at a C+ and bordering the B-grade tier.

Importantly, no Waco neighborhood earned a D or F grade, which distinguishes the city from many similarly-sized metros in Texas and nationally. Even in these C-range areas, awareness and routine precautions go a long way.

Is Waco a good place to live in 2026?

Waco presents a compelling case for residents who prioritize affordability alongside reasonable safety. The city's median home value of $127,446 and median rent of $879 are well below national averages, and with 81% of neighborhoods graded A or B for safety, buyers and renters have genuine options in secure areas. The unemployment rate of 4.6% is close to the national average, and neighborhoods like North Lake Waco (median income $87,065) and Mountainview (median income $79,737) offer upper-middle-income living at a fraction of the cost of comparable Texas metros. The city's poverty rate of 25.3% is elevated and correlates with the C-grade neighborhoods like Carver and Brook Oaks, so neighborhood selection matters. Families and individuals who use the Waco crime map to target A- and B+ neighborhoods — such as Kendrick, Landon Branch, or Lacy Lakeview — will find a city that delivers strong value, a tight-knit community feel, and safety grades that hold up well against Texas peers.

How does Waco's neighborhood safety distribution compare to other cities?

Waco's safety distribution is notably strong relative to many mid-size U.S. cities. With 30.8% of neighborhoods graded A and 50% graded B, the combined A+B share of 81% means that more than four out of every five Waco neighborhoods qualify as safe. The complete absence of D or F neighborhoods — 0 out of 26 — is a standout figure. By contrast, many comparable cities see 10–20% of their neighborhoods fall into the D or F tier. The C-range neighborhoods (19.2%) are concentrated in areas like Downtown and East Riverside, which is a pattern common to urban cores nationwide. For a city with a 25.3% poverty rate and a median household income of $40,349, Waco's grade distribution reflects meaningful community investment and policing effectiveness across most of its residential areas.