Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fayetteville, NC
VS
Killeen, TX
🏆 Killeen leads 13 of 23 categories
Fayetteville
North Carolina
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$53,424
Violent Crime Index
174⚠ High
Population
208,697 ✓ Larger
Killeen
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.8
Median Household Income
$57,086 ✓ Higher
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.
Fayetteville, NC
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (8.4%)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Homes cost $17k less ($158,500 vs $175,400)
More college-educated — 28.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
Cons
Violent crime (660.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3094.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Killeen by $3,662/yr
Killeen, TX
Pros
20% less violent crime than Fayetteville
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.8)
Households earn $3,662 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 54°F
Cons
Violent crime (527.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (10.9% vs 8.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Fayetteville
Median Home Value
$17k less
$158,500 vs $175,400
Fayetteville
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
8.4% vs 10.9% unemployment
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 91.4 on the COL index
Killeen
Median Income
$3,662
$57,086 vs $53,424/yr
Killeen
Violent Crime
20% lower
527.6 vs 660.2 per 100k
Killeen
Summer Heat
4.8°F warmer
July avg high 95.7°F vs 90.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fayetteville, NC | Killeen, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper | 91.8 |
| Median Home Value | $158,500 ✓ Lower | $175,400 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,117 | $1,084 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $53,424 | $57,086 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 10.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.0 min ✓ Shorter | 23.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 5.4% | 6.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 163⚠ High | 110⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 174⚠ High | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 147⚠ High | 66 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) ✓ Better | C+ (83) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.8:1 | 15.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.5% ✓ Higher | 22.1% |
| High School or Higher | 93.1% ✓ Higher | 91.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cumberland County Schools | KILLEEN ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.1°F | 59.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.9°F | 95.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.9" | 36.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 208,697 ✓ Larger | 153,708 |
| Median Age | 30.5 ✓ Older | 29.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.4% | 46.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.6% | 29.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.6% ✓ More | 7.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fayetteville's cost of living index is 91.4 vs Killeen's 91.8 (US average = 100).
Fayetteville is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Killeen leads 13 of 23 categories. Fayetteville wins 10 and Killeen wins 13. 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 Fayetteville to Killeen or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($158,500 vs $175,400 median home), income ($53,424 vs $57,086), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fayetteville, NC and Killeen, TX are about 1,119 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.