Kilgore May 2016 16 (Main Street) · Michael Barera / CC BY-SA 4.0Old Main at Kilgore College IMG 5916 · Billy Hathorn / CC BY 3.0St. Luke's United Methodist Church, Kilgore, TX IMG 5921 · Billy Hathorn / CC BY-SA 3.0The Laird Building, Kilgore, Texas (7415448254) · SMU Central University Libraries / No restrictions
Kilgore is a small city of 13,400 in Texas, with a median household income of $58,439
and a 4.8% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 88 (US average = 100), which is
12% below the national average.
Strengths:
Kilgore stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Kilgore is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Kilgore city data on this page comes from official government sources —
the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 88.4
Kilgore's overall cost of living index is 88.4,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Kilgore costs roughly 12% less than the average American city.
Metric
Kilgore, TX
National Avg
Median Home Value
$146,300
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$962
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
71.3%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$58,439
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Safer than Average
Kilgore's violent crime rate is 338.9 per 100,000 residents
— 11% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
338.9 /100k
Property Crime
2195.7 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Kilgore is served primarily by KILGORE ISD.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.8:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Kilgore, TX
National Avg
School District
KILGORE ISD
—
Elementary Schools
3
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.8:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
19.3%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
80.0%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Kilgore sees average highs of 58.3°F in January
and 94.4°F in July,
with 45.3 inches of annual precipitation
and 0.7 inches of snow per year.
Kilgore's cost of living index is 88, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Kilgore roughly 12% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $146,300 and median rent is $962/month.
Kilgore's violent crime rate is 338.9 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2195.7 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Kilgore are operated by KILGORE ISD.
The district has 3 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.8:1. 19.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Kilgore, TX has a population of 13,400, a median household income of $58,439, and an unemployment rate of 4.8%.
It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Kilgore averages 58.3°F in January and 94.4°F in July. Annual rainfall is 45.3 inches
with about 0.7 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Kilgore, TX is covered by 1 ZIP code: 75662.
The population of Kilgore, Texas is 13,400 with a median age of 38.2. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Kilgore: cost of living index 88 (100 = US average), median home $146,300, median household income $58,439, crime index 95 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Kilgore side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
.jpg)
.jpg)