Head-to-Head · City Comparison
El Monte, CA
VS
Killeen, TX
🏆 Killeen leads 14 of 22 categories
El Monte
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$59,929 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
108,682
Killeen
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.8 ✓ Cheaper
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.
El Monte, CA
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.9 pts lower (7.0%)
20% less violent crime than Killeen
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 96°F
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 60°F
Households earn $2,843 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $597,200
Higher rents — median is $1,605/mo
Cost of living runs 24% higher than Killeen
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Killeen, TX
Pros
Homes cost $422k less ($175,400 vs $597,200)
Rent averages $521/mo less ($1,084 vs $1,605)
24% cheaper overall cost of living than El Monte
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 22.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
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 7.0%)
Median income trails El Monte by $2,843/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
El Monte
Median Income
$2,843
$59,929 vs $57,086/yr
El Monte
Violent Crime
20% lower
423.2 vs 527.6 per 100k
El Monte
Unemployment
3.9 pp lower
7.0% vs 10.9% unemployment
Killeen
Cost of Living
24% cheaper
COL index 91.8 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Killeen
Median Home Value
$422k less
$175,400 vs $597,200
Killeen
Summer Heat
10.2°F warmer
July avg high 95.7°F vs 85.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | El Monte, CA | Killeen, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 91.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $597,200⚠ High | $175,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,605⚠ High | $1,084 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,929 ✓ Higher | $57,086 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 10.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.3 min⚠ High | 23.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% | 6.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 106⚠ High ✓ Safer | 110⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 98 | 66 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (66) | C+ (83) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 | 15.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 13.7% | 22.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 63.9% | 91.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Mountain View Elementary | KILLEEN ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.6°F ✓ Warmer | 59.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 85.5°F | 95.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.7" ✓ Drier | 36.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 108,682 | 153,708 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 29.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.6% | 46.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.4% | 29.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.6% ✓ More | 7.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
El Monte's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Killeen's 91.8 (US average = 100).
Killeen is 24% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Killeen leads 14 of 22 categories. El Monte wins 8 and Killeen wins 14. 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 El Monte to Killeen or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($597,200 vs $175,400 median home), income ($59,929 vs $57,086), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
El Monte, CA and Killeen, TX are about 1,198 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.