Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Des Moines, IA
VS
Killeen, TX
🏆 Des Moines leads 13 of 23 categories
Des Moines
Iowa
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.7
Median Household Income
$62,378 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
185⚠ High
Population
213,164 ✓ Larger
Killeen
Texas
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,086
Violent Crime Index
139⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
153,708
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Des Moines, IA
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.0 pts lower (5.9%)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Households earn $5,292 more per year on average
More college-educated — 28.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $89/mo less ($995 vs $1,084)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.7)
Cons
Violent crime (703.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3126.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Killeen, TX
Pros
25% less violent crime than Des Moines
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 31°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 5.9%)
Median income trails Des Moines by $5,292/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Des Moines
Median Income
$5,292
$62,378 vs $57,086/yr
Des Moines
Unemployment
5.0 pp lower
5.9% vs 10.9% unemployment
Killeen
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 91.8 vs 92.7 (100 = US avg)
Killeen
Violent Crime
25% lower
527.6 vs 703.0 per 100k
Killeen
Summer Heat
10.1°F warmer
July avg high 95.7°F vs 85.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Des Moines, IA | Killeen, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.7 | 91.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $170,700 ✓ Lower | $175,400 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $995 ✓ Lower | $1,084 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $62,378 ✓ Higher | $57,086 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 10.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.5 min ✓ Shorter | 23.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.2% ✓ Higher | 6.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 171⚠ High | 110⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 185⚠ High | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 149⚠ High | 66 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) ✓ Better | C+ (83) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.7% ✓ Higher | 22.1% |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% | 91.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Des Moines Independent Comm School District | KILLEEN ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.9°F | 59.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.6°F | 95.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.5" | 36.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 36.5" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 213,164 ✓ Larger | 153,708 |
| Median Age | 34.4 ✓ Older | 29.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% ✓ Higher | 46.3% |
| Under 18 | 23.2% | 29.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.4% ✓ More | 7.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Des Moines's cost of living index is 92.7 vs Killeen's 91.8 (US average = 100).
Killeen is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Des Moines leads 13 of 23 categories. Des Moines wins 13 and Killeen wins 10. 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 Des Moines to Killeen or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($170,700 vs $175,400 median home), income ($62,378 vs $57,086), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Des Moines, IA and Killeen, TX are about 760 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.