Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Columbus, OH
VS
Killeen, TX
🏆 Killeen leads 12 of 23 categories
Columbus
Ohio
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.5
Median Household Income
$62,994 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
114⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
902,449 ✓ Larger
Killeen
Texas
12
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.
Columbus, OH
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.7 pts lower (5.2%)
18% less violent crime than Killeen
More college-educated — 38.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $5,908 more per year on average
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.5)
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 96°F
Cons
Property crime (2653.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Killeen
Killeen, TX
Pros
Homes cost $37k less ($175,400 vs $212,500)
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 37°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.8)
Rent averages $77/mo less ($1,084 vs $1,161)
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Columbus
Cons
Violent crime (527.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (10.9% vs 5.2%)
Median income trails Columbus by $5,908/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Columbus
Median Income
$5,908
$62,994 vs $57,086/yr
Columbus
Violent Crime
18% lower
434.9 vs 527.6 per 100k
Columbus
Unemployment
5.7 pp lower
5.2% vs 10.9% unemployment
Killeen
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 91.8 vs 94.5 (100 = US avg)
Killeen
Median Home Value
$37k less
$175,400 vs $212,500
Killeen
Summer Heat
10.7°F warmer
July avg high 95.7°F vs 85.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Columbus, OH | Killeen, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.5 | 91.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $212,500 | $175,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,161 | $1,084 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $62,994 ✓ Higher | $57,086 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 10.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.0 min ✓ Shorter | 23.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 13.8% ✓ 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 | 114⚠ 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 | B (97) ✓ Better | C+ (83) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 38.3% ✓ Higher | 22.1% |
| High School or Higher | 90.3% | 91.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Columbus City Schools District | KILLEEN ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.5°F | 59.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.0°F | 95.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.2" | 36.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 902,449 ✓ Larger | 153,708 |
| Median Age | 32.7 ✓ Older | 29.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.7% | 46.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.9% | 29.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.7% ✓ More | 7.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Columbus's cost of living index is 94.5 vs Killeen's 91.8 (US average = 100).
Killeen is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Killeen leads 12 of 23 categories. Columbus wins 11 and Killeen wins 12. 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 Columbus to Killeen or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($212,500 vs $175,400 median home), income ($62,994 vs $57,086), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Columbus, OH and Killeen, TX are about 1,030 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.