Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chula Vista, CA
VS
Killeen, TX
🏆 Chula Vista leads 13 of 22 categories
Chula Vista
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$101,984 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
99 ✓ Safer
Population
276,103 ✓ Larger
Killeen
Texas
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,086
Violent Crime Index
139⚠ High
Population
153,708
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chula Vista, CA
Pros
Households earn $44,898 more per year on average
29% less violent crime than Killeen
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (8.8%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 75°F vs 96°F
More college-educated — 31.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 60°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $647,100
Higher rents — median is $2,035/mo
Cost of living runs 20% higher than Killeen
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Killeen, TX
Pros
Homes cost $472k less ($175,400 vs $647,100)
Rent averages $951/mo less ($1,084 vs $2,035)
20% cheaper overall cost of living than Chula Vista
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.8)
Smaller class sizes — 15.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Chula Vista by $44,898/yr
Violent crime (527.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (10.9% vs 8.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Chula Vista
Median Income
$44,898
$101,984 vs $57,086/yr
Chula Vista
Violent Crime
29% lower
375.8 vs 527.6 per 100k
Chula Vista
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
8.8% vs 10.9% unemployment
Killeen
Cost of Living
20% cheaper
COL index 91.8 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
Killeen
Median Home Value
$472k less
$175,400 vs $647,100
Killeen
Summer Heat
21.1°F warmer
July avg high 95.7°F vs 74.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chula Vista, CA | Killeen, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.5⚠ High | 91.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $647,100⚠ High | $175,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,035⚠ High | $1,084 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $101,984 ✓ Higher | $57,086 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 10.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.1 min⚠ High | 23.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.2% ✓ Higher | 6.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 81 ✓ Safer | 110⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 99 ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 54 ✓ Safer | 66 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (80) | C+ (83) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.0:1 | 15.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.2% ✓ Higher | 22.1% |
| High School or Higher | 85.3% | 91.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Chula Vista Elementary | KILLEEN ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.5°F ✓ Warmer | 59.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 74.6°F | 95.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.0" ✓ Drier | 36.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 276,103 ✓ Larger | 153,708 |
| Median Age | 36.1 ✓ Older | 29.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.9% ✓ Higher | 46.3% |
| Under 18 | 24.7% | 29.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.2% ✓ More | 7.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chula Vista's cost of living index is 111.5 vs Killeen's 91.8 (US average = 100).
Killeen is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Chula Vista leads 13 of 22 categories. Chula Vista wins 13 and Killeen wins 9. 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 Chula Vista to Killeen or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($647,100 vs $175,400 median home), income ($101,984 vs $57,086), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chula Vista, CA and Killeen, TX are about 1,135 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.