County Profiles

McLennan County has the Pulse of Economic Growth in the Heart of Texas

McLennan County has the pulse of economic growth in the Heart of Texas Region. Waco and the Waco Metropolitan Statistical Area is the strongest industrial and commercial center within the area.

McLennan County and Waco are located in central Texas along the I-35 corridor, approximately halfway between Dallas-Fort Worth and Austin, within 200 miles of all major metropolitan areas in Texas.

McLennan County is the most populated county in the Heart of Texas Region, with a 2019 population of 256,623. Waco is the county seat and largest city in McLennan County, with an estimated population of 139,236. The 2019 Waco MSA population was estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau to be 273,920. And significant growth is expected for the area. In 2017, the economic consultant organization, The Perryman Group, forecasted the MSA population to reach 323,000 by 2040.

Like regions across the country, unemployment in McLennan County has increased somewhat in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Texas Workforce Commission reported that McLennan County had a total Civilian Labor Force of 122,801 in November 2020, with an unemployment rate of 6.6%, significantly lower than the Texas total of 8% unemployed. In comparison, McLennan County unemployment was 3.1% in November 2019.

McLennan County is a balanced economic region, with a range of business sectors centered around Waco. Major business clusters include manufacturing and food and beverage production, with major employers like Allergan, Cargill Foods, L-3 Integrated Systems, Mars Chocolate North America, Pilgrim’s Pride and Sanderson Farms. The area continues to grow with new investments, with available land centered in Waco at three industrial parks, the Texas Central Park, Waco International Aviation Park and Waco Regional Airport Industrial Park. The 11-th largest Christian university in the country, Baylor University, is in Waco and offers a collaborative partnership with the area fostering high technology developments.

McLennan County has historically placed a large significance on developing a favorable mix between urban and rural amenities. For example, Waco is a fantastic city for people of all ages. Cameron Park at 416 acres and located near the Brazos River is one of the nicest urban parks in the state. It includes the Cameron Park Zoo and many trails. Many cultural amenities can be found in and around Waco, from the Waco Symphony Orchestra to the Mayborn Museum and Dr. Pepper Museum & Free Enterprise Institute. The Lake Waco reservoir is located on the western edge of Waco and offers numerous outdoor and leisure opportunities.

Click on the cities within McLennan County for more information:

Population
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Population

Population2000201020222027
McLennan County213,517234,906265,782272,276

Source: ESRI, 2022-11-14

Population by Age

Population201020222027
0-416,64216,82417,118
5-916,48317,14217,322
10-1416,27516,77817,514
15-1920,60419,39619,745
20-2423,22324,96524,719
25-2916,18619,02117,117
30-3414,19317,81017,771
35-3913,46916,74518,087
40-4413,34615,16116,745
45-4915,12813,73215,181
50-5415,07713,74413,531
55-5913,69015,40313,664
60-6411,33115,29214,561
65-698,45213,65914,432
70-746,73611,07712,412
75-795,5217,8809,647
80-844,3635,3516,464
85+4,1875,8026,246
18+175,161205,157210,204
Median Age333536

Source: ESRI, 2022-11-14

Population by Race

McLennan County2022
Total265,782.000
White Alone59.280
Black Alone14.490
American Indian Alone0.980
Asian Alone1.960
Pacific Islander Alone0.070
Some Other Race10.860
Two or More Races12.360
Hispanic Origin26.770
Diversity Index75.700

Source: ESRI, 2022-11-14

Growth Rate

McLennan County2022 - 2027
Population0.48%
Households0.50%
Families0.54%
Median Household Income4%
Per Capita Income3%

Source: ESRI, 2022-11-14

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Housing
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Households

Population2000201020222027
Households78,85986,89298,534101,043
Housing Units84,79595,124108,259111,188
Owner Occupied Units59,76962,095
Renter Occupied Units38,76538,948
Vacant Units9,72510,145

Source: ESRI, 2022-11-14

Home Value

McLennan County20222027
Median Home Value$204,134$271,611
Average Home Value$231,651$304,661
<$50,0005,0102,029
$50,000 - $99,9998,3762,654
$100,000 - $149,9995,8072,093
$150,000 - $199,9999,9266,720
$200,000 - $249,9999,17911,695
$250,000 - $299,9998,54713,535
$300,000 - $399,9996,85312,417
$400,000 - $499,9993,0196,045
$500,000 - $749,9991,9563,361
$1,000,000 +267390

Source: ESRI, 2022-11-14

Housing Year Built

Year RangeHouses Built
2010 or Later3,803
2000-200912,433
1990-199911,545
1980-198915,510
1970-197917,509
1960-196911,660
1950-195914,188
1940-19495,072
1939 or Before5,051

Source: ESRI, 2022-11-14

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Income
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Income

McLennan County20222027
Median Household$56,307$67,093
Average Household$83,865$98,133
Per Capita$31,256$36,578

Source: ESRI, 2022-11-14

Household Income Base

McLennan County2022
<$15,00013,013
$15,000 - $24,9998,294
$25,000 - $34,9998,140
$35,000 - $49,99914,420
$50,000 - $74,99916,334
$75,000 - $99,99912,164
$100,000 - $149,99915,274
$150,000 - $199,9994,817
$200,000+6,077

Source: ESRI, 2022-11-14

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Employees
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Commute

CategoryCommuters
Workers 16+113,921
In-County Residents105,911
Out-of-County Residents7,406
Drive Alone93,860
Carpooled11,029
Public Transport685
Work at Home5,003
Less than 5 minutes3,004
5-9 minutes14,537
10-14 minutes19,316
15-19 minutes27,615
20-24 minutes16,999
25-29 minutes7,507
30-34 minutes10,531
35-39 minutes1,633
40-44 minutes1,268
45-59 minutes2,443
60-89 minutes2,107
90+ minutes1,958
Average Travel Time20

Source: ESRI, 2022-11-14

Source: ESRI, 2022-11-14

Employees by NAICS

CategoryNumber
Total Employees121,777
Agr/Forestry/Fish/Hunt749
Mining37
Utilities545
Construction6,115
Manufacturing10,243
Wholesale Trade6,532
  
Retail Trade14,192
Motor Veh/Parts Dealers1,896
Furn & Home Furnish Str517
Electronics & Appl Store384
Bldg Matl/Garden Equip1,308
Food & Beverage Stores2,288
Health/Pers Care Stores878
Gasoline Stations474
Clothing/Accessory Store926
Sports/Hobby/Book/Music881
General Merchandise Str2,881
Misc Store Retailers1,643
Nonstore Retailers116
  
Transportation/Warehouse3,049
Information2,772
  
Finance & Insurance4,904
Cntrl Bank/Crdt Intrmdtn2,435
Sec/Cmdty Cntrct/Oth Inv540
Insur/Funds/Trusts/Other1,929
  
Real Estate/Rent/Leasing2,440
Prof/Scientific/Tech Srv7,137
Legal Services1,049
Mgmt of Comp/Enterprises500
Admin/Support/Waste Mgmt2,266
Educational Services13,054
HealthCare/Social Assist18,352
Arts/Entertainment/Rec2,288
  
Accommodation/Food Srvcs11,573
Accommodation1,223
Food Srv/Drinking Places10,350
  
Other Srv excl Pub Admin7,141
Auto Repair/Maintenance1,058
Public Administration Emp7,600

Source: ESRI, 2022-11-14

Educational Attainment (25+)

McLennan County2022
Some High School13,517
Graduated High School38,651
Associates Degree20,864
Bachelor's Degree29,849
Graduate Degree16,270

Source: ESRI, 2022-11-14

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Businesses
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Businesses by NAICS

CategoryNumber
Total Businesses9,216
Agr/Forestry/Fish/Hunt Bus47
Mining Bus7
Utilities Bus36
Construction Bus605
Manufacturing Bus323
Wholesale Trade Bus322
  
Retail Trade Bus1,428
Motor Veh/Parts Dealers Bus215
Furn & Home Furnish Str Bus77
Electronics & Appl Store Bus33
Bldg Matl/Garden Equip Bus103
Food & Beverage Stores Bus200
Health/Pers Care Stores Bus108
Gasoline Stations Bus59
Clothing/Accessory Store Bus151
Sports/Hobby/Book/Music Bus64
General Merchandise Str Bus101
Misc Store Retailers Bus200
Nonstore Retailers Bus117
  
Transportation/Warehouse Bus178
Information Bus152
  
Finance & Insurance Bus589
Cntrl Bank/Crdt Intrmdtn Bus250
Sec/Cmdty Cntrct/Oth Inv Bus115
Insur/Funds/Trusts/Other Bus224
  
Real Estate/Rent/Leasing Bus478
Prof/Scientific/Tech Srv Bus693
Legal Services Bus188
Mgmt of Comp/Enterprises Bus38
Admin/Support/Waste Mgmt Bus278
Educational Services Bus287
HealthCare/Social Assist Bus754
Arts/Entertainment/Rec Bus178
  
Accommodation/Food Srvcs Bus725
Accommodation Bus98
Food Srv/Drinking Places Bus627
  
Other Srv excl Pub Admin Bus1,175
Auto Repair/Maintenance Bus221
Public Administration Bus314

Source: ESRI, 2022-11-14

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