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Texas cost of care

Cost of senior care in Waco

What care costs in the Waco area, what the homes here are actually like, and how families pay for it. The cost figures are estimates, built from national survey medians adjusted for the local cost of living. The quality figures are the government's own records for the 17 rated nursing homes in this metro.

Estimated monthly cost in Waco

National median cost adjusted for the Waco area's price level (93 where the U.S. average is 100). These are estimates to plan around, not quotes.

Type of careEstimated monthly cost
Nursing home (semi-private room)
24-hour skilled nursing care, shared room.
$8,160$9,580
Nursing home (private room)
24-hour skilled nursing care, private room.
$9,190$10,790
Memory care
Assisted living in a secured unit for dementia/Alzheimer's.
$5,240$6,160
Assisted living
Housing plus help with daily activities; not skilled nursing.
$5,020$5,900

Cost basis: CareScout 2025 Cost of Care Survey national medians, adjusted by BEA Regional Price Parities (All items, 2024, U.S. = 100). Estimates, not quotes. Individual homes vary by room, level of care, and services.

Will your parent's savings cover it?

At roughly $8,870 a month for a nursing home, savings can run down faster than families expect. Our free calculator shows how long the money would last and when Medicaid would step in.

Open the cost calculator

Nursing home quality in Waco

Cost is only half the decision. Here is what the government's data says about the 17 rated homes in this metro.

17
Rated nursing homes
2.65 of 5
Average CMS rating
6
Rated 4 or 5 stars
9
Rated 1 or 2 stars

The typical Waco home reports 3.31 nurse hours per resident per day, against a statewide median of 3.27 and a federal target of 3.48. 2 homes carry a federal abuse-warning flag. A high star rating does not guarantee a clean record, so it is worth checking each home you are considering.

Top-rated nursing homes in Waco

The highest-rated homes in this metro. Open any report card for its full record.

How families pay for care in Waco

Most families use some mix of savings, long-term care insurance, veterans benefits, and Texas Medicaid. The biggest mistakes happen early, when families give money away or sign over the house before getting advice. Our guides walk through the Texas rules in plain English.

Free guide

The 5 costliest Texas Medicaid mistakes

A free one-page guide to the errors that cost families the most, and how to avoid them. We will email it to you.

Common questions

How much does a nursing home cost in Waco?

A nursing home in the Waco area runs an estimated $8,160 to $9,580 a month for a semi-private room. This is the CareScout national median adjusted for the Waco area's cost of living, which sits below the national average. Actual prices vary by home and level of care.

Does Medicaid pay for nursing home care in Waco?

Yes. Texas Medicaid covers long-term nursing home care for people who meet the income and asset limits, anywhere in the state including Waco. In 2026 a single applicant can have no more than $2,000 in countable assets and about $2,982 a month in income. Our guides explain how families qualify without losing the house.

Are the nursing homes in Waco any good?

The Waco area has 17 rated nursing homes with an average CMS rating of 2.65 stars. 6 are rated 4 or 5 stars and 9 are rated 1 or 2 stars. You can check any home's full safety record on our report cards before you decide.

Other Texas metros

Cost estimates: CareScout 2025 Cost of Care Survey (CareScout / Genworth) national medians, adjusted by BEA Regional Price Parities, All items, 2024, U.S. = 100. Quality data: CMS Care Compare (Nursing Homes), dataset 4pq5-n9py, retrieved 2026-08-09. Ellery Care accepts no payment from any facility. Educational information, not financial or medical advice.