Congratulations on choosing Baylor. Whether you are an incoming freshman, a graduate student, or a parent helping with the move, this local guide covers the essentials for settling into Waco — from picking a neighborhood near campus to finding a doctor, a grocery run, and a good taco.
Your Move-to-Waco Checklist
Confirm on-campus or off-campus housing plans early — leases near campus move fast.
Update your address with your bank, employer, and the U.S. Postal Service.
Transfer your driver's license and vehicle registration to Texas within 90 days.
Set up electricity, internet, water, and renters insurance before move-in day.
Find a primary care doctor, dentist, and nearby urgent care.
Register to vote in McLennan County if you'll be here long-term.
Explore neighborhoods, coffee shops, and a home church or community group.
Housing Near Baylor
On-campus living is a great first-year experience, but many upperclassmen, grad students, and families prefer off-campus. Most Baylor-adjacent housing sits within a few minutes of campus in downtown Waco, along South 8th Street, or in the neighborhoods just south and west of campus. Parents relocating with a student often look at Woodway, Hewitt, and Robinson for single-family homes with an easy drive to Baylor.
Downtown & Silo District lofts — walkable to campus, restaurants, and Magnolia Market.
Castle Heights & Sanger Heights — historic bungalows a short bike ride from campus.
Woodway & Hewitt — family neighborhoods with top schools, 10-15 minutes to Baylor.
China Spring — rural feel, acreage, great schools, ~20 minutes to campus.
Getting Around Waco
Waco is a car-friendly city, but you don't always need one. Baylor's shuttle system connects the main campus to off-campus student housing, and Waco Transit runs city-wide bus routes. Rideshare (Uber and Lyft) is widely available. If you're driving in from another state, plan for wide roads, easy parking, and about 90 minutes to Austin or Dallas via I-35.
Food, Coffee & Grocery
You will not go hungry in Waco. Between locally-owned Tex-Mex, barbecue, and a growing scene of coffee shops and bakeries, students find a favorite spot within a week. For everyday groceries, most students stick to H-E-B (the beloved Texas chain), with Trader Joe's, Sprouts, and a Saturday downtown farmers market rounding out the options.
H-E-B on Waco Drive and Hewitt Drive — the go-to grocery run.
Common Grounds & Pinewood Roasters — classic Baylor coffee study spots.
Magnolia Table, Milo Provisions, and the Silos for weekend brunch with visiting parents.
Healthcare
Baylor's on-campus Health Services covers most student visits and referrals. For anything larger, Ascension Providence and Baylor Scott & White Hillcrest are the two main hospital systems in town, both with urgent care clinics and specialists across the city. Set up a primary care doctor and a dentist during your first semester so you're not scrambling during finals.
Banking & Mail
Most national banks (Chase, Bank of America, Wells Fargo) have Waco branches, and several regional Texas banks and credit unions operate near campus. Update your billing address with the USPS the week you move — Baylor mailboxes work for on-campus students, and standard residential delivery covers everywhere else.
Utilities & Internet
Texas has a deregulated electricity market, so you pick your provider (Reliant, TXU, Green Mountain, and others compete on rate). City of Waco handles water and trash. For internet, Spectrum and AT&T Fiber are the two most common providers near campus, with Google Fiber expanding into parts of the metro. Set everything up 1-2 weeks before move-in.
Texas Driver's License & Voter Registration
If you become a Texas resident, you have 90 days to transfer your out-of-state driver's license and register your vehicle. The Texas DPS office in Waco handles licenses; the McLennan County Tax Office handles registration. Voter registration in McLennan County is free and can be done by mail or in person.
Faith Communities & Belonging
Baylor's Christian identity is reflected across Waco. Antioch, Highland, UBC, Harris Creek, and dozens of other congregations actively welcome students and young families. Beyond church, look for intramural sports, service organizations, and neighborhood groups — Waco is small enough that showing up twice makes you a regular.
Things to Do Beyond the Books
Cameron Park is 400+ acres of trails, cliffs, and river access minutes from campus. The Silos, the Suspension Bridge, Cameron Park Zoo, the Dr Pepper Museum, and a genuinely fun downtown make weekends easy. And when you need a bigger city, Austin and Dallas are each about 90 minutes away.
A Note for Parents
If you are relocating with your student — or buying an investment property near campus so your student has a place to live — Coronado Realty Group works with Baylor families every semester. We help parents navigate school zones, safe neighborhoods, and the numbers on a rent-vs-buy decision.
Talk to a Local Realtor Who Knows Baylor Families
Enoch Coronado has helped Baylor students, grad students, faculty, and parents settle into Waco for years. Reach out for a no-pressure conversation about neighborhoods, timing, and what fits your family.