Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Columbia, MO
VS
Killeen, TX
🏆 Columbia leads 14 of 23 categories
Columbia
Missouri
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,455 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
91 ✓ Safer
Population
126,172
Killeen
Texas
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.8
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.
Columbia, MO
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 6.9 pts lower (4.0%)
34% less violent crime than Killeen
More college-educated — 55.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Rent averages $87/mo less ($997 vs $1,084)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.3)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Killeen, TX
Pros
Homes cost $73k less ($175,400 vs $248,600)
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 39°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.8)
Cons
Violent crime (527.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (10.9% vs 4.0%)
Median income trails Columbia by $3,369/yr
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Columbia
Key Differences at a Glance
Columbia
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 89.3 vs 91.8 (100 = US avg)
Columbia
Median Income
$3,369
$60,455 vs $57,086/yr
Columbia
Violent Crime
34% lower
347.5 vs 527.6 per 100k
Columbia
Unemployment
6.9 pp lower
4.0% vs 10.9% unemployment
Killeen
Median Home Value
$73k less
$175,400 vs $248,600
Killeen
Summer Heat
7.1°F warmer
July avg high 95.7°F vs 88.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Columbia, MO | Killeen, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.3 ✓ Cheaper | 91.8 |
| Median Home Value | $248,600 | $175,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $997 ✓ Lower | $1,084 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,455 ✓ Higher | $57,086 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 10.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.5 min ✓ Shorter | 23.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.6% ✓ Higher | 6.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 99 ✓ Safer | 110⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 91 ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 110⚠ High | 66 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (123) ✓ Better | C+ (83) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 55.3% ✓ Higher | 22.1% |
| High School or Higher | 95.4% ✓ Higher | 91.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | COLUMBIA 93 | KILLEEN ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.3°F | 59.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.6°F | 95.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.8" | 36.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 17.4" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,172 | 153,708 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.8 | 29.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.8% ✓ Higher | 46.3% |
| Under 18 | 19.0% | 29.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.1% ✓ More | 7.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Columbia's cost of living index is 89.3 vs Killeen's 91.8 (US average = 100).
Columbia is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Columbia leads 14 of 23 categories. Columbia wins 14 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 Columbia to Killeen or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($248,600 vs $175,400 median home), income ($60,455 vs $57,086), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Columbia, MO and Killeen, TX are about 624 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.