Real Estate Investing in Waco, Texas (76701)

Everything the listing leaves out — vacancy, rent trend, cap rate, landlord climate. All free.

McLennan County • Population: 1,732 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 76701 (Waco, TX)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (45/100)

Proceed carefully. Weak appreciation or affordability makes this a harder case for most buyers.

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (47/100)

A middle-of-the-road market. Workable, but the best opportunities may be nearby ZIPs rather than this one.

⚠️ Risks to Know
3 flags
  • High vacancy: 17.3% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • Elevated poverty: 42.3% poverty rate — can affect rent collection.
  • Lower household income: $29,714 median — tenant affordability is tighter.

What’s happening in Waco, TX (76701)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

4.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $319,901
Avg Monthly Rent $1,334
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $29,714
% Renters 81.6%

Market Analysis: 76701 Waco

ZIP 76701 inside McLennan County looks affordable on the surface — median value of $320K — but the discount exists for reasons that a careful buyer should understand before committing.

Put differently, the numbers look inviting — $320K purchase price, 0.0% nominal cap — the work to hit that pro forma in 76701 is substantial and deserves full respect.

The gap between 76701 and stronger Waco ZIPs is not closing quickly. Investors should weight long-horizon assumptions accordingly.

From a cash-flow lens, 1,732 residents fill the ZIP, renter turnover runs higher than neighboring postal codes and delinquency risk is a real line item rather than a theoretical one.

Experienced landlords with local relationships tend to find 76701 workable. Turnkey investors from out of state usually find the numbers do not hold up in practice.

Explore the Data — Click a Tab Below
🏦 Current 30-yr Fixed Mortgage Rate: 6.76% as of Sep 10 Source: Freddie Mac PMMS

Here's what matters if you're considering buying a home in Waco:

C Below Average
Buy Confidence Score: 57/100
Affordability
0/25
Appreciation
25/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 10.8× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+11.6%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,334/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
COOL
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
Bottom Line: This market may be challenging for buyers. Consider your timing and budget carefully.
❄️
COOL MARKET
Waco, TX Metro Area
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
74 days
Average time to sell
Slow
8.5%
Listings with price cuts
Few Cuts
0.0%
Sale price vs asking
Below Ask
0.0%
Income needed for mortgage
Affordable
📅 Market conditions as of August 29, 2026 — updated weekly from Waco, TX metro data

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$340K$281K$222K$163K$104K$45KJan 2009Oct 2017Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,338$1,327$1,315$1,304$1,293$1,282May 2026Jun 2026Jun 2026

📊 How Does 76701 Compare?

Metric 76701 Waco Waco, TX Texas
Home Value $319,901 $120,642 N/A $297,000
5-Year CAGR 8.5% 4.2% N/A 5.4%
Avg Rent $1,334 $1,382 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.3% 5.9% - -
💡 Why Invest in 76701? Click to expand

With a 3/5 investability rating, this ZIP shows solid fundamentals for buy-and-hold investors.

82% of households rent in this area, creating consistent tenant demand for landlords.

📊 See where this ZIP ranks in our Best-of lists →
A great house in the wrong ZIP is still a bad deal — screen every market by cash flow & cap rate.
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 76701 (Waco, TX). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.3%
Low
5yr Growth
+8.5%
Strong

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Waco, TX metro

4/10
Moderate Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
2/3
64%
Days Pending
2/2
74 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $319,901
Monthly Rent $1,334
Price-to-Rent 20.0:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 5.0%
Cap Rate 3.3%
5-Year IRR 11.7%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +11.6% ▲
3-Year CAGR +5.2% ▲
5-Year CAGR +8.5% ▲
10-Year CAGR +11.7% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.3%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.3%). Financing reduces your cash-on-cash return below the cap rate. Markets like this may still make sense as IRR plays — factoring in appreciation, depreciation, and a future refinance when rates drop.

Run an IRR Analysis →

⚠️ Risk Signals

Composite view of factors that can impact a ZIP's stability and your downside risk.

Vacancy
17.3%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+8.5%
Growing
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 76701

Population: 1,732

💰 Median Household Income
$29,714
This area
$29,714
State
$70,593
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
81.6%
This area
81.6%
State
29.5%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
1.6%
This area
1.6%
State
-25.4%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
32.9%
This area
32.9%
State
-5.8%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
31.3 years
This area
31.3 years
State
-3.7 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
17.3%
This area
17.3%
State
18.3%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 69.1%
Black/African American 17.7%
Other/Mixed 11.9%
Hispanic/Latino 7.7%
Asian 1.3%
👶 Under 18
11.2%
This area
11.2%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
7.7%
This area
7.7%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
42.3%
This area
42.3%
USA
11.5%

Crime & Safety

🚧

Crime & Safety Data Coming Soon

We're integrating comprehensive crime statistics including violent crime rates, property crime, and safety scores to help you make informed investment decisions.

Expected: Q1 2025

🎓 Schools in 76701

A Avg School Grade
1 Schools
13.8:1 Avg Class Size
$15,641 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

KENDRICK EL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
469 Students
👨‍🏫
13.8:1 Class Size
💰
$15,641 Per Student

Nearby Schools (5 more)

Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area

A Very Good

G W CARVER MIDDLE

📚 06 – 08 Middle Charter
📍 1601 J J FLEWELLEN RD, WACO
👥
776 Students
👨‍🏫
11.3:1 Class Size
💰
$15,641 Per Student
A Very Good

PROVIDENT HEIGHTS EL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 2415 BOSQUE BLVD, WACO
👥
398 Students
👨‍🏫
13.2:1 Class Size
💰
$15,641 Per Student
B+ Above Average

WEST AVENUE EL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 1101 N 15TH ST, WACO
👥
276 Students
👨‍🏫
14.4:1 Class Size
💰
$15,641 Per Student
B+ Above Average

AUDRE AND BERNARD RAPOPORT ACADEMY

📚 Pre-K – 04 Elementary Charter
📍 2000 J J FLEWELLEN RD, WACO
👥
399 Students
👨‍🏫
11.7:1 Class Size
💰
$13,640 Per Student
B+ Above Average

DEAN HIGHLAND EL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 3300 MAPLE, WACO
👥
597 Students
👨‍🏫
16.4:1 Class Size
💰
$15,641 Per Student
About Repit School Scores

Traditional school ratings rely heavily on standardized test scores, which often reflect family income more than school quality. Repit takes a different approach.

We evaluate schools based on factors that research shows actually impact educational outcomes:

  • Class Size — Smaller classes mean more individual attention
  • School Funding — Resources available for programs, staff, and facilities
  • Community Factors — Neighborhood characteristics that influence student success
  • School Environment — Size, type, and structure

Scores are updated annually using federal education data.

🎓 Nearby Colleges & Universities

4 Nearby 5,693 Off-Campus Students
B
Baylor University
20,824 students · 1.1 mi
D
Southern Careers Institute-Waco
205 students · 2.7 mi
C
McLennan Community College
7,217 students · 3.2 mi
C+
Texas State Technical College
11,436 students · 6.8 mi

Investor Insight: With 5,693 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are home prices like in Waco, TX?

In Waco, TX the median home value sits at $320K. Against the broader TX market, that reads as reasonable for most investors.

Is Waco, TX landlord-friendly?

Landlord-friendliness in Waco, TX is landlord-friendly. Eviction timelines and lease enforcement are considered reasonable by most property managers.

What do rentals go for in Waco, TX?

Waco, TX rentals go for roughly $1,334/mo a month. That puts gross yield in solid territory relative to $320K acquisition costs.

What approach is best for Waco, TX real estate?

Waco, TX investors pursuing careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management. The underlying economics ($320K prices, $1,334/mo rents) make it a reasonable choice.

Is the tenant base reliable in Waco, TX?

Tenant quality in Waco, TX ranks as solid. Landlords generally report reliable occupancy at market rents of $1,334/mo.

You know 76701 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 76701 ranks in Waco, TX

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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