Growing Cities and Towns Around Waco, Texas¶

Several communities in the greater Waco area are experiencing meaningful population growth, major economic investment, or significant new development as of 2025–2026. This page summarizes the key growth stories across the region.

Growth at a Glance (2020–2026)¶

City	2020 Pop.	2026 Estimate	Trend	Primary Driver
McGregor	5,321	~6,361	~3.3%/yr	SpaceX, Knauf Insulation, EFC semiconductor
Robinson	12,464	~13,247	~3.7% employment growth	Walmart regional processing facility
Hewitt	16,070	~16,749	+0.26%/yr population; 6.23% employment growth	Industrial corridor, Midway ISD demand
Lorena	1,783	~1,799	Near flat; residential construction boom	BrightFarms, DR Horton, new subdivisions
Lacy Lakeview	7,210	~7,275	+0.18%/yr	L3Harris expansion; potential $10B data center

Sources: World Population Review, U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts, city economic development offices.

Key Growth Stories (2025–2026)¶

McGregor — SpaceX & Industrial Expansion¶

McGregor has seen the fastest sustained population growth in the metro (~3.3%/yr) and is transforming from a quiet small town into a significant industrial hub: - SpaceX Rocket Development & Test Facility — 800–1,000+ employees. A March 2026 lease renewal added stricter decibel noise limits and increased city revenue. April 30, 2026: A group of 76 homeowners in McLennan and Coryell counties filed suit in the 414th District Court (Waco) over structural damage from Raptor 3 static fire tests exceeding 600,000 lbs of thrust; seeking $1M+. SpaceX had previously been fined up to $25,000 for violating Waco's 10pm noise curfew. A separate lawsuit by a truck driver (liquid methane injury, June 2024) is also pending. - Knauf Insulation — Opened a 600,000-square-foot plant in October 2024; creating nearly 200 jobs. - EFC Gases & Advanced Materials — A $210M semiconductor specialty gas facility is under construction in the McGregor Industrial Park, bringing 120+ jobs. - Housing note: Median home values have jumped from ~$175K (census) to ~$322K–$377K in current listings — reflecting the industrial growth premium.

See McGregor.

Robinson — Walmart Regional Distribution Hub¶

Robinson's employment picture changed dramatically with the April 29, 2026 opening of Walmart's 300,000+ sq ft milk processing facility: - 400+ direct jobs added in a city of ~13,000. - Processes 120 million gallons of milk annually; distributes to 650+ stores across TX, OK, AR, LA, and MS. - One of the largest single employer additions to McLennan County in recent years. - Combined with Robinson ISD's A-rating, this makes Robinson an increasingly attractive bedroom community.

See Robinson.

Hewitt — Infrastructure Investment & Fiber Expansion¶

Hewitt has maintained strong employment growth (6.23%, 2023–2024) and is investing heavily to sustain it: - $9M–$16M in infrastructure bonds for the Enterprise Boulevard industrial corridor and Commerce Park Phase 2. - 95 active construction projects valued at $308.9M in the current pipeline. - Pavlov Media fiber officially launched in June 2025 — now live across Hewitt with residential speeds up to 8 Gbps and no data caps. - Continues to attract families due to Midway ISD access at lower price points than Woodway.

See Hewitt.

Lorena — Residential Construction Boom¶

Lorena's population growth has plateaued but the housing market tells a different story: - Multiple active subdivisions: D.R. Horton Park Meadows, Rosenthal Estates, Callan Village, and others. - New homes from $272K–$500K+; median household income of ~$87,337 (well above county and state averages). - BrightFarms hydroponic greenhouse (opened in December 2024) brought 70 jobs, growing to 250+. - Among the lowest property tax rates in the region ($0.5639/$100).

See Lorena.

Lacy Lakeview — Transformational Proposal¶

Lacy Lakeview is at the center of what could become the largest economic development project in Central Texas history: - Infrakey L2D2 Data Center Campus — announced January 20, 2026: $10 billion proposed investment, 520 acres, 925 MW (up to 1.2 GW), Phase I targeting 300 MW (see Texas Tribune). - Major obstacle: The site requires annexation of a 3-mile corridor through private property plus a new sewer plant (2M gal/day) and water service from the City of Waco. As of June 2026, Waco has not agreed to provide water service. Waco City Manager Ryan Holt learned about the project from a news article in November 2025. Engineers from both cities met for the first time on April 22, 2026. - Community opposition: Petition at 3,611+ signatures (more than half of the city's 2020 census population). Amy Gage (anti-data center) won the May 2, 2026 city council election as the top vote-getter; pro-Infrakey incumbent Richard Lednicky lost. - State Rep. Pat Curry (R-Waco): "Without the City of Waco agreeing to it, Lacy Lakeview can't do anything out there and neither can Infrakey." - The project remains in deep regulatory and political limbo.

See Lacy Lakeview.

Waco Core — Major Development Pipeline (2026)¶

Waco proper has several major development milestones in 2026: - Loop 340/I-35 Retail Development: City approved (May 2026) a 252-acre big-box retail development; $33M city infrastructure commitment, $18M in future sales tax reimbursements; Waco Gateway LLC committed $105M+ across two phases (see KWTX). - Cordova Springs (Floyd Casey Stadium Site): First homes going up May 2026; a master-planned community (built by Sorrells & Co. and other partners) with ~260 single-family lots on the former stadium land. - Waco Surf "The Desperado": 450-acre expansion with 88 3D-printed homes by ICON and a second surf lagoon; summer 2026 groundbreaking. - Alice Martinez Rodriguez Park (formerly Floyd Casey Park): $25M, 30-acre park under construction; opening late 2026.

See Waco.