Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Dayton, OH
VS
Killeen, TX
🏆 Killeen leads 15 of 23 categories
Dayton
Ohio
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.3
Median Household Income
$41,443
Violent Crime Index
352⚠ High
Population
137,305
Killeen
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,086 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
139⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
153,708 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Dayton, OH
Pros
Homes cost $89k less ($86,200 vs $175,400)
Rent averages $254/mo less ($830 vs $1,084)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (10.0%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.3)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 96°F
Cons
Median income trails Killeen by $15,643/yr
Violent crime (1339.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4334.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Killeen, TX
Pros
61% less violent crime than Dayton
Households earn $15,643 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 36°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 10.0%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Dayton
Median Home Value
$89k less
$86,200 vs $175,400
Dayton
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
10.0% vs 10.9% unemployment
Killeen
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 91.8 vs 92.3 (100 = US avg)
Killeen
Median Income
$15,643
$57,086 vs $41,443/yr
Killeen
Violent Crime
61% lower
527.6 vs 1339.2 per 100k
Killeen
Summer Heat
9.0°F warmer
July avg high 95.7°F vs 86.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Dayton, OH | Killeen, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.3 | 91.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $86,200 ✓ Lower | $175,400 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $830 ✓ Lower | $1,084 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $41,443 | $57,086 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 10.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.1 min ✓ Shorter | 23.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.7% ✓ Higher | 6.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 294⚠ High | 110⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 352⚠ High | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 206⚠ High | 66 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (77) | C+ (83) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.1:1 | 15.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.6% | 22.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.4% | 91.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Dayton City | KILLEEN ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.3°F | 59.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.7°F | 95.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.6" | 36.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 12.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 137,305 | 153,708 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.0 ✓ Older | 29.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.4% ✓ Higher | 46.3% |
| Under 18 | 20.9% | 29.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.4% ✓ More | 7.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Dayton's cost of living index is 92.3 vs Killeen's 91.8 (US average = 100).
Killeen is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Killeen leads 15 of 23 categories. Dayton wins 8 and Killeen wins 15. 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 Dayton to Killeen or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($86,200 vs $175,400 median home), income ($41,443 vs $57,086), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Dayton, OH and Killeen, TX are about 969 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.