Detailed Information about Dean Highland, Waco¶

Neighborhood Information¶

Dean Highland is a City of Waco recognized neighborhood in northwest Waco (ZIP codes 76707/76708), bounded by residential streets west of downtown. The neighborhood is distinguished by its deep historical roots — Camp MacArthur (WWI), the founding of Hillcrest Baptist Hospital, the Blue Bonnet trolley network — and by an active and organized community association.

The Dean Highland Neighborhood Association operates at deanhighlandwaco.org and hosts an annual neighborhood gathering (the 5th annual was held in June 2025). The association coordinates neighborhood improvement projects, advocates before local government, and maintains communication between residents.

The Hillcrest Hospital Site¶

One of the most active civic issues in Dean Highland as of 2026 is the fate of the former Hillcrest Baptist Hospital campus at 30th and Herring Avenue — the land originally donated by the Dean family in 1916. The hospital operated there from 1920 to 2009, when operations moved to a new I-35 facility. The original building was demolished in 2020. The site has sat vacant since.

Dean Highland residents have been pushing for years for the property — owned by Baylor Scott & White Health — to be converted into a neighborhood park. The City of Waco has been in discussions to potentially acquire the site. As of March 2026, the Waco City Council has allocated $350,000 toward the effort and the city and Baylor Scott & White are in active negotiations.

Blue Bonnet Trolley Terminal¶

The Blue Bonnet trolley line once ran directly through Dean Highland, connecting it to hospitals, schools, factories, and government buildings across Waco. The original trolley terminal building still stands in the neighborhood — one of the last physical remnants of Waco's early 20th-century streetcar system.

Crime Rates¶

Safety score: 4 out of 10 — relatively safe for a Waco neighborhood
Overall assessment: Above average in safety compared to Waco as a whole; described as on par with the average U.S. neighborhood
The Waco Police Department headquarters is located on Pine Avenue in or adjacent to the neighborhood, providing a strong institutional presence.
For current data, see the Waco Police Department Crime Map.

Demographics¶

Population: Approximately 2,180
Median Construction Year: 1966 (reflecting both pre-1940 historic homes and postwar ranch-style infill)
Pre-1940 construction: 20.1% of homes built before 1940; 11.5% by 1949
Predominant Ancestry: Mexican (51.4%); English (8.2%); German (4.6%); Irish (3.5%)
Foreign-Born: 18.6% of residents were born in another country
Race: Caucasian 37.6%; African American 29.9%; Asian 1%; two or more races 25.2%
Citizenship: 85.1% U.S.-born; 3.1% naturalized; 11.8% non-citizens
Income: Below average — lower than 74.9% of U.S. neighborhoods
Child Poverty: 11.8% of children below the federal poverty line — higher than 54.3% of U.S. neighborhoods

Housing¶

Households: 736; average 2 members per household; 65% family households, 35% single/non-family
Ownership: 59.2% owner-occupied, 40.9% renters
Vacancy rate: 16.2% — above average, though lower than many comparable Waco neighborhoods
Housing character: Primarily ranch-style single-family homes from the 1940s and 1950s, with some pre-1940 structures reflecting the neighborhood's early development during and after WWI
The neighborhood's relative owner-occupancy rate and lower vacancy rate compared to other low-income Waco neighborhoods reflect a more stable residential base.

Community Notes¶

The neighborhood is college student-friendly due to its proximity to nearby universities and medical institutions.
Annual neighborhood gathering tradition (5th annual held June 2025) reflects ongoing community cohesion.
The ongoing Hillcrest Hospital site advocacy represents a significant current effort to improve neighborhood green space access.
Dean Highland Elementary received its 3rd consecutive F rating in 2025. Waco ISD is entering a charter performance contract with Third Future Schools (approved early 2026) to manage the campus, alongside South Waco Elementary, to avoid TEA state takeover. Source: KWTX