Detailed Information about East Waco¶
Neighborhood Information¶
East Waco (City of Waco "Carver" neighborhood) is the historic center of Waco's African-American community, centered on the Elm Avenue corridor east of I-35 and the Brazos River. ZIP code 76704 has a population of approximately 7,018–7,450, with a poverty rate of 41–47% — among the most economically challenged ZIP codes in the Waco area.
Crime Rates¶
East Waco / ZIP 76704 has elevated crime rates relative to both national benchmarks and other Waco neighborhoods.
| Metric | ZIP 76704 | National Average |
|---|---|---|
| Violent crime index | 64.3 | 22.7 |
| Property crime index | 75.9 | 35.4 |
- Violent crime is nearly 3x the national average; property crime is more than 2x the national average
- Waco citywide 2024 crime trend: Overall crime fell 15% from 2023; citywide 2025 crime dropped a further 7.3%
- Waco overall city safety grade: C (14th percentile nationally)
For current data, see the Waco Police Department Crime Map.
Demographics¶
| Metric | ZIP 76704 | Waco City |
|---|---|---|
| Population | ~7,018–7,450 | ~149,600 |
| Median Age | 27 years | 29.7 years |
| Per Capita Income | $17,540 | — |
| Median Household Income | $24,208–$30,349 | ~$54,365 |
| Poverty Rate | 41.9–47.4% | — |
| Child Poverty Rate | 58.7% | — |
Race / Ethnicity (ZIP 76704):
| Group | Share |
|---|---|
| Black / African American | 61.4% |
| Hispanic / Latino | 21.6% |
| White (non-Hispanic) | 14.9% |
| Native American | 0.8% |
| Two or more races | 1.1% |
99% of students at J.H. Hines Elementary are classified as economically disadvantaged — one of the most concentrated poverty indicators in Waco ISD.
Housing¶
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Median home list price (April 2025) | $166,950 (up 28.4% YoY) |
| Median price per sq. ft. | $164 |
| Median home value (ACS) | $134,900 |
| Total housing units | 3,763 |
| Owner-occupied | 31.6% |
| Renter-occupied | 68.4% |
| Vacancy rate | 20.5% (far above healthy 5–8%) |
| Average days on market | 88 days (down 33.9% YoY) |
The 28.4% year-over-year price increase and shrinking days-on-market (as of April 2025) reflect accelerating interest from investors and buyers responding to the Elm Avenue revitalization, raising gentrification concerns among longtime residents.
Neighborhood Developments (2022–2025)¶
Elm Avenue Streetscape ($6.7M, Completed 2024)¶
The City of Waco and TxDOT completed a full rebuild of Elm Avenue from Hood Street to Clifton Street: new pavement, ADA-compliant sidewalks, street trees, improved lighting, and storm drainage. Funded through TIF Zone 1/4 and TxDOT. A model block on the 700 block preceded the full project.
Bridge Street Plaza ($5.5M)¶
Complete redesign of Bridge Street as a "festival street" honoring East Waco's heritage. Now hosts the weekly Waco Downtown Farmers Market (Saturdays 9am–1pm) and the Levitt AMP Music Series (free outdoor concerts).
Broadway Place Mixed-Income Apartments (509 Elm Ave)¶
47–50 residential units (9 reserved for affordable housing) plus commercial space; total project cost $8.2M. Waco City Council approved $350,000 in city assistance (December 2022).
TIF Zone Investment¶
The Elm Avenue corridor falls within a Tax Increment Financing (TIF) zone. The TIF board approved: - $1.25M in small business grants ("We All Win" program — up to $75,000 per business covering 75% of facade/HVAC/art improvements) - $2.9M for affordable housing
Mission Waco — Creekside Community Village¶
Mission Waco is developing a 68-acre campus off University Parks Drive: Phase 1 includes 35 tiny homes plus infrastructure for permanent supportive housing for chronically homeless individuals in McLennan County.
Art on Elm Festival¶
Annual street festival (each September); the third annual drew ~3,000 people within the first 2 hours. Organized by artonelm.org. A key community and economic activation event.
Key Organizations¶
- Prosper Waco — Collective impact nonprofit (founded 2015); tracks education, health, and economic mobility outcomes; partnered with the National Resource Network to identify East Waco as a model for place-based development
- Mission Waco (Jimmy and Janet Dorrell) — Faith-based nonprofit with multiple East Waco programs: the Ark Apartments (affordable housing, since 1998), the Meyer Center (Friday breakfast for unhoused people), the Street Sweep Employment Program, and Creekside Community Village
- City Center Waco — Manages downtown and East Waco revitalization strategy and the "We All Win" small business grant program
- Transformation Waco (2018–2024) — In-district charter organization that managed 5 East Waco campuses under Senate Bill 1882; returned campuses to WISD direct management 2024–25; restructured as a community wraparound services nonprofit