Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bakersfield, CA
VS
Killeen, TX
🏆 Bakersfield leads 12 of 23 categories
Bakersfield
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,827 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
146⚠ High
Population
404,321 ✓ Larger
Killeen
Texas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,086
Violent Crime Index
139⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
153,708
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bakersfield, CA
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.8 pts lower (7.1%)
Households earn $16,741 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $320,600
Violent crime (554.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2469.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Killeen
Killeen, TX
Pros
Homes cost $145k less ($175,400 vs $320,600)
5% less violent crime than Bakersfield
Rent averages $199/mo less ($1,084 vs $1,283)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Bakersfield
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.8)
Smaller class sizes — 15.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (527.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Bakersfield by $16,741/yr
Higher unemployment (10.9% vs 7.1%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Bakersfield
Median Income
$16,741
$73,827 vs $57,086/yr
Bakersfield
Unemployment
3.8 pp lower
7.1% vs 10.9% unemployment
Killeen
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 91.8 vs 102.2 (100 = US avg)
Killeen
Violent Crime
5% lower
527.6 vs 554.6 per 100k
Killeen
Median Home Value
$145k less
$175,400 vs $320,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bakersfield, CA | Killeen, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.2⚠ High | 91.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $320,600⚠ High | $175,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,283 | $1,084 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $73,827 ✓ Higher | $57,086 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 10.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter | 23.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.0% ✓ Higher | 6.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 135⚠ High | 110⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 146⚠ High | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 118⚠ High | 66 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (73) | C+ (83) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.4:1 | 15.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.3% ✓ Higher | 22.1% |
| High School or Higher | 81.6% | 91.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bakersfield City | KILLEEN ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.1°F | 59.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 97.4°F ✓ Warmer | 95.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.6" ✓ Drier | 36.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 404,321 ✓ Larger | 153,708 |
| Median Age | 31.5 ✓ Older | 29.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.2% ✓ Higher | 46.3% |
| Under 18 | 29.8% ✓ More | 29.2% |
| Over 65 | 10.5% ✓ More | 7.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bakersfield's cost of living index is 102.2 vs Killeen's 91.8 (US average = 100).
Killeen is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Bakersfield leads 12 of 23 categories. Bakersfield wins 12 and Killeen wins 11. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Bakersfield to Killeen or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($320,600 vs $175,400 median home), income ($73,827 vs $57,086), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bakersfield, CA and Killeen, TX are about 1,264 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.