Killeen is a mid-sized city of 153,708 in Texas, with a median household income of $57,086
and a 10.9% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 92 (US average = 100), which is
8% below the national average.
Strengths:
Killeen stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Killeen is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Killeen 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: 91.8
Killeen's overall cost of living index is 91.8,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Killeen costs roughly 8% less than the average American city.
Metric
Killeen, TX
National Avg
Median Home Value
$175,400
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$1,084
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
46.3%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$57,086
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Near National Average
Killeen's violent crime rate is 527.6 per 100,000 residents
— 39% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
527.6 /100k
Property Crime
1382.5 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Killeen is served primarily by KILLEEN ISD.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.8:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Killeen, TX
National Avg
School District
KILLEEN ISD
—
Elementary Schools
34
—
Middle Schools
13
—
High Schools
9
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.8:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
22.1%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
91.9%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Killeen sees average highs of 59.5°F in January
and 95.7°F in July,
with 36.0 inches of annual precipitation
.
Killeen's cost of living index is 92, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Killeen roughly 8% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $175,400 and median rent is $1,084/month.
Killeen's violent crime rate is 527.6 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1382.5 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Killeen are operated by KILLEEN ISD.
The district has 34 elementary, 13 middle, and 9 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.8:1. 22.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Killeen, TX has a population of 153,708, a median household income of $57,086, and an unemployment rate of 10.9%.
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.
Killeen averages 59.5°F in January and 95.7°F in July. Annual rainfall is 36.0 inches
.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Killeen, TX is covered by 4 ZIP codes: 76542, 76549, 76543, 76541.
The population of Killeen, Texas is 153,708 with a median age of 29.7. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Killeen: cost of living index 92 (100 = US average), median home $175,400, median household income $57,086, crime index 110 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Killeen side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
