1 Bedroom Apartments in Waco: What's Available and What to Pay

Looking for a 1 bedroom apartment in Waco TX? You'll find plenty of listings — old converted houses for $500, modern downtown lofts for $1,500, and everything in between. The average lands around $1,074/mo for 653 square feet, but those numbers don't tell you which 1BRs are worth the money, which neighborhoods they cluster in, or whether a 1BR is even the right move for your situation.

This guide walks you through what's actually available, what fair prices look like in 2026, who 1BRs serve well, and a piece of math most apartment-hunters never run: how splitting a 2-bedroom often beats a 1BR on both cost and square footage per person.

What 1 Bedroom Apartments in Waco Actually Cost

Across major rental data sources, the average 1 bedroom apartment in Waco TX runs $900 to $1,284 per month, with most reports clustering between $1,000 and $1,100. RentCafe pegs the average at $1,074/mo for about 653 square feet. Rent.com sits closer to $1,030. Listing aggregators like Apartments.com tend to skew higher ($1,200+) because their inventory leans newer.

The range is huge because Waco's 1BR market spans three very different eras of housing stock:

• Older converted apartments near Baylor ($500–$800/mo) — small units in mid-century buildings on Speight, S 7th, S 8th, and Daughtrey
• Mid-market communities ($800–$1,100/mo) — typical of properties built in the 1990s–2010s
• Downtown lofts and renovated historic buildings ($1,000–$1,500+/mo) — Riverfront Lofts, Behrens Lofts, LL Sams, Historic Lofts of Waco High

For comparison, Bear Cribs lists 1BRs near Baylor ranging from $499 at Bear Crossing to $1,524 at River Crest — a 3x spread within walking distance of campus. Price alone tells you almost nothing about quality, age, or what's included.

Where 1 Bedroom Apartments Cluster in Waco

• Speight Avenue and South 7th–8th Street corridor — dense cluster of older student-oriented 1BR buildings (Casa Linda, University Plaza, University Terrace, Knotty Pine, Driftwood). Cheap, walkable to Baylor, but most are pre-1980 stock with varying upkeep.
• Downtown Waco / Silo District — Behrens Lofts (26 one-bedroom units, 700–1,400 sqft), Riverfront Lofts, LL Sams Lofts, Green Door Lofts. Modern or historic-loft style, premium pricing.
• Valley Mills Drive and west Waco — newer mid-tier complexes farther from campus, lower density of 1BRs.
• East of I-35 — older inventory, fewer student renters.

Who 1 Bedrooms in Waco Actually Serve

A 1BR makes sense for a specific kind of renter — and most of the people searching "1 bedroom apartments Waco" don't fit that profile cleanly. Here's who genuinely benefits:

• Grad students or post-grads living alone with a stable income and no interest in roommates
• Young professionals working in Waco who want their own space and can absorb the full rent
• Couples (under one lease) who want 1BR pricing without splitting bedrooms
• Short-term renters — visiting researchers, traveling professionals, internship-year renters

If you're an undergraduate at Baylor and you're searching for a 1BR because you're tired of roommates or want privacy, run the next section's math before you sign anything. You'll likely save several hundred dollars a month — and gain more space — by going the 2BR route with one roommate.

The Math: Why Splitting a 2BR Beats a 1BR on Cost AND Space

This is the calculation most renters never do, and it changes how the Waco market should look to you.

Typical Waco 1BR (average):

• Rent: $1,074/mo
• Square feet: ~653 sqft
• Per person (1 person): $1,074/mo, 653 sqft

Centre 2BR (12-month classic, near Baylor):

• Rent: $1,198/mo total
• Square feet: 1,100 sqft
• Per person (2 roommates): $599/mo, 550 sqft

That's $475 less per month per person, every month, for the entire lease. Over a 12-month lease, you save $5,700 each — enough to cover a year of groceries, two semesters of textbooks, or a flight home and back several times.

Yes, you give up ~100 sqft of personal space versus a 1BR — but you each get your own bedroom AND your own bathroom (Centre's 2BR is 2-bath), plus a larger shared living room and kitchen than any 1BR offers. Most students don't actually need 650 sqft of private space; they need a private bedroom + study area, which a 2BR gives.

The same math works at most price tiers in Waco. The premium you pay to live alone in a 1BR is rarely about the apartment itself — it's about not having a roommate. That's a real preference, but it's an expensive one. Our guide on how to find a roommate at Baylor helps you skip the worst-case scenario most "I want a 1BR" renters are actually avoiding.

What to Watch For on Cheap Waco 1BR Listings

When you see a $499 or $580 1BR in the Speight/S 7th area, ask these questions before touring:

1. Year built? Many are pre-1970. Plumbing, HVAC, electrical, and insulation will reflect that.
2. What utilities are included? "All bills paid" listings sometimes cap usage; itemized listings can quietly add $150–$250/mo. Our all bills paid vs. itemized rent guide breaks down the trap.
3. Laundry? Is there in-unit washer/dryer, a shared on-site laundry room, or do you haul to a laundromat?
4. Parking? Older buildings sometimes have only street parking, which is brutal during Baylor game weekends.
5. Pest history? Older Waco buildings, especially on Speight, have ongoing pest pressure. Ask the property manager directly, and ask current residents if you can.
6. Security and lighting? Walk the property at night before signing. Gated communities cost more for a reason — see our gated vs. non-gated breakdown.

The cheapest 1BR is rarely the best value once you total the real monthly cost (rent + utilities + laundromat + parking workarounds + repair headaches).

When a Downtown Waco 1BR Loft Is Actually Worth It

If you're set on living alone, the downtown loft tier ($1,000–$1,500) is where the 1BR market in Waco starts justifying its price. Behrens Lofts offers 1BRs from 700 to 1,400 sqft with washer/dryer, exposed brick, and 12+ foot ceilings. Riverfront Lofts runs studio to 2BR with modern finishes near the river. Green Door Lofts in the Silo District has 9 boutique units.

These aren't student apartments — they're targeted at young professionals, grad students, and couples who want walkable downtown living. If that's your fit and budget, the loft tier delivers what mid-range 1BRs near Baylor often don't: modern construction, real amenities, and a neighborhood you'd actually choose for itself.

Just know: downtown to Baylor's campus is a 5–10 minute drive, not a walk. If campus proximity matters, see our walking-distance apartment guide.

The Centre Alternative for Baylor Students

Centre doesn't offer 1 bedroom apartments — and that's intentional. Our two-bedroom floor plan is built for the per-person economics above: 1,100 sqft, 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, washer/dryer in every unit, high-speed internet included, parking included, gated community, all within walking distance of Baylor's campus.

For one renter, that's more space and amenities than most 1BRs at a comparable total price. For two roommates splitting, you each pay $599/mo in 2026 ($1,198 total, 12-month classic lease) for more square footage, your own bathroom, and a setup that doesn't ask you to choose between privacy, location, and budget. Browse our floor plans or take a look at the amenities to see how the math compares to whatever 1BR you're considering.

Ready to Compare in Person?

The fastest way to know whether a Waco 1BR is worth the premium is to walk one and then walk a 2BR. Schedule a tour to see Centre's two-bedroom floor plan — and if you're already convinced, you can start your application in about 15 minutes. Questions about leases, fees, or what's included? Check our FAQ before you sign.

Whatever you choose, run the per-person math before signing a 1BR lease in Waco. The number that looks small at first usually isn't.