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Detailed Information about Richland Hills, Waco, TX

This document provides detailed information about the Richland Hills neighborhood in Waco, Texas, including housing, crime rates, demographics, and what the area is known for.

Neighborhood Information

Richland Hills is a dense urban neighborhood in northwestern Waco, defined by its apartment-heavy housing stock and commercial corridor along North Valley Mills Drive. The neighborhood is bounded by major roads and sits adjacent to Richland Mall and the I-35 corridor. Housing consists primarily of small to medium-sized apartment buildings, with most units built between 1940 and 1999. The high rental rate (~91%) and vacancy rate (~21%) reflect the transient nature of much of the housing market here.

Despite its challenges, the neighborhood offers significant walkability — it is the 2nd most walkable neighborhood in Waco — and residents have easy access to groceries, retail, restaurants, and parks without needing a car.

Crime Rates

Richland Hills has elevated crime rates compared to the rest of Waco and the nation. The neighborhood is in the 6th percentile for safety, meaning 94% of U.S. neighborhoods are safer.

  • Violent Crime: Approximately 9.42 per 1,000 residents per year — higher than both the Texas and national averages.
  • Property Crime: Approximately 68.22 per 1,000 residents per year — higher than both the Texas and national averages, and in the 3rd percentile nationally (97% of neighborhoods have lower property crime).

The elevated property crime rate is partly attributed to the high commercial density near North Valley Mills Drive and Richland Mall.

Demographics

Richland Hills is a diverse, majority-minority neighborhood within the City of Waco.

  • Ancestry/Ethnicity: The most common ancestry is Mexican (25.4%). The neighborhood has a prominent Hispanic/Latino community overall.
  • Foreign-Born: 11.7% of residents were born outside the United States.
  • Language: 76.3% of households speak English at home; 23.7% speak a non-English language.
  • Income and Poverty: The neighborhood is classified as low-income. Approximately 60.8% of children live below the federal poverty line, which is higher than 97% of U.S. neighborhoods. The median home value is approximately $134,947, well below the U.S. median.
  • Housing Tenure: Approximately 91% of housing units are renter-occupied — higher than 97.1% of all U.S. neighborhoods.

Community Information

The Richland Hills Neighborhood Association is currently not active, though the City of Waco encourages interested residents to contact the Office of Neighborhood Engagement to help reactivate it.

The neighborhood benefits from the commercial activity along North Valley Mills Drive, including Richland Mall, grocery stores, and numerous service businesses. Despite being part of Waco, it maintains a distinct neighborhood identity within the city's Neighborhood Engagement program.

What Richland Hills is Known For

  • Richland Mall: The shopping center at the intersection of North Valley Mills Drive and I-35 is the commercial heart of the area and a major retail destination for western Waco.
  • Walkability: One of the most walkable neighborhoods in Waco, with access to daily errands, parks, and dining on foot.
  • Richland Park: A community park popular for family use.
  • Skate Waco: A local entertainment venue serving the neighborhood.

Richland Mall — 2024–2025 Updates

Richland Mall remains operational and is actively managing its tenant mix.

Current anchor tenants: Dillard's (two locations, including former Sears space absorbed 2020), JCPenney, Dick's Sporting Goods, Tilt Studio (former Gordmans, converted 2021).

Recent activity: - Approximately 8 stores and dining establishments departed in a three-month stretch (late 2024/early 2025). - Forever 21 relocated out of the mall to Central Texas Marketplace; new tenant deal being finalized. - Bath & Body Works expanded into the former Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory space to carry the full White Barn home line. - Youth supervision policy enacted September 27, 2024: visitors under 18 must be accompanied by a parent/guardian (age 21+) on Friday and Saturday evenings after 5 PM. - No major redevelopment or conversion plans have been announced as of early 2026.

Sources: Waco Tribune-Herald, CBL Properties.

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