Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Elk Grove, CA
VS
Killeen, TX
🏆 Elk Grove leads 13 of 22 categories
Elk Grove
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$115,864 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
50 ✓ Safer
Population
176,105 ✓ Larger
Killeen
Texas
9
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.
Elk Grove, CA
Pros
Households earn $58,778 more per year on average
64% less violent crime than Killeen
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.5 pts lower (6.4%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (189.9 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 37.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $560,500
Higher rents — median is $2,076/mo
Cost of living runs 17% higher than Killeen
Longer commutes — 33.1 min average each way
Killeen, TX
Pros
Homes cost $385k less ($175,400 vs $560,500)
Rent averages $992/mo less ($1,084 vs $2,076)
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Elk Grove
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.8)
Smaller class sizes — 15.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Elk Grove by $58,778/yr
Violent crime (527.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (10.9% vs 6.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Elk Grove
Median Income
$58,778
$115,864 vs $57,086/yr
Elk Grove
Violent Crime
64% lower
189.9 vs 527.6 per 100k
Elk Grove
Unemployment
4.5 pp lower
6.4% vs 10.9% unemployment
Killeen
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 91.8 vs 108.9 (100 = US avg)
Killeen
Median Home Value
$385k less
$175,400 vs $560,500
Killeen
Summer Heat
3.1°F warmer
July avg high 95.7°F vs 92.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Elk Grove, CA | Killeen, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.9⚠ High | 91.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $560,500⚠ High | $175,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,076⚠ High | $1,084 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $115,864 ✓ Higher | $57,086 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 10.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.1 min⚠ High | 23.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.7% ✓ Higher | 6.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 53 ✓ Safer | 110⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 50 ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 59 ✓ Safer | 66 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) ✓ Better | C+ (83) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.7:1 | 15.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.0% ✓ Higher | 22.1% |
| High School or Higher | 90.7% | 91.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elk Grove Unified | KILLEEN ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.0°F | 59.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.6°F | 95.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 18.1" ✓ Drier | 36.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 176,105 ✓ Larger | 153,708 |
| Median Age | 38.7 ✓ Older | 29.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 73.8% ✓ Higher | 46.3% |
| Under 18 | 25.9% | 29.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.3% ✓ More | 7.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Elk Grove's cost of living index is 108.9 vs Killeen's 91.8 (US average = 100).
Killeen is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Elk Grove leads 13 of 22 categories. Elk Grove wins 13 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 Elk Grove to Killeen or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($560,500 vs $175,400 median home), income ($115,864 vs $57,086), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Elk Grove, CA and Killeen, TX are about 1,430 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.