Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cambridge, MA
VS
Killeen, TX
🏆 Killeen leads 13 of 23 categories
Cambridge
Massachusetts
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$121,539 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
115⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
117,962
Killeen
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,086
Violent Crime Index
139⚠ High
Population
153,708 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cambridge, MA
Pros
Households earn $64,453 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 7.6 pts lower (3.3%)
More college-educated — 79.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
17% less violent crime than Killeen
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 96°F
Smaller class sizes — 9.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $997,600
Higher rents — median is $2,628/mo
Cost of living runs 20% higher than Killeen
Property crime (2644.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Killeen, TX
Pros
Homes cost $822k less ($175,400 vs $997,600)
Rent averages $1544/mo less ($1,084 vs $2,628)
20% cheaper overall cost of living than Cambridge
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 37°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.8)
Cons
Median income trails Cambridge by $64,453/yr
Violent crime (527.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (10.9% vs 3.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Cambridge
Median Income
$64,453
$121,539 vs $57,086/yr
Cambridge
Violent Crime
17% lower
436.7 vs 527.6 per 100k
Cambridge
Unemployment
7.6 pp lower
3.3% vs 10.9% unemployment
Killeen
Cost of Living
20% cheaper
COL index 91.8 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Killeen
Median Home Value
$822k less
$175,400 vs $997,600
Killeen
Summer Heat
11.0°F warmer
July avg high 95.7°F vs 84.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cambridge, MA | Killeen, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 91.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $997,600⚠ High | $175,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,628⚠ High | $1,084 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $121,539 ✓ Higher | $57,086 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.3% ✓ Lower | 10.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.2 min | 23.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 25.1% ✓ Higher | 6.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 119⚠ High | 110⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 66 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (135) ✓ Better | C+ (83) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 9.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 79.9% ✓ Higher | 22.1% |
| High School or Higher | 95.6% ✓ Higher | 91.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cambridge | KILLEEN ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 37.0°F | 59.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.7°F | 95.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.3" | 36.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 117,962 | 153,708 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.6 ✓ Older | 29.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 33.6% | 46.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 12.2% | 29.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.9% ✓ More | 7.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cambridge's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Killeen's 91.8 (US average = 100).
Killeen is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Killeen leads 13 of 23 categories. Cambridge wins 10 and Killeen wins 13. 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 Cambridge to Killeen or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($997,600 vs $175,400 median home), income ($121,539 vs $57,086), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cambridge, MA and Killeen, TX are about 1,658 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.