Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Collins, CO
VS
Killeen, TX
🏆 Fort Collins leads 15 of 23 categories
Fort Collins
Colorado
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.6
Median Household Income
$78,977 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
168,758 ✓ Larger
Killeen
Texas
8
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.
Fort Collins, CO
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.6 pts lower (5.3%)
48% less violent crime than Killeen
Households earn $21,891 more per year on average
More college-educated — 58.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 96°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $497,400
Higher rents — median is $1,576/mo
Snowy winters — about 49" of snow per year
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Killeen
Killeen, TX
Pros
Homes cost $322k less ($175,400 vs $497,400)
Rent averages $492/mo less ($1,084 vs $1,576)
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 45°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.8)
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Fort Collins
Cons
Median income trails Fort Collins by $21,891/yr
Violent crime (527.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (10.9% vs 5.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Collins
Median Income
$21,891
$78,977 vs $57,086/yr
Fort Collins
Violent Crime
48% lower
272.7 vs 527.6 per 100k
Fort Collins
Unemployment
5.6 pp lower
5.3% vs 10.9% unemployment
Killeen
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 91.8 vs 96.6 (100 = US avg)
Killeen
Median Home Value
$322k less
$175,400 vs $497,400
Killeen
Summer Heat
8.3°F warmer
July avg high 95.7°F vs 87.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Collins, CO | Killeen, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.6 | 91.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $497,400⚠ High | $175,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,576⚠ High | $1,084 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,977 ✓ Higher | $57,086 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 10.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.3 min ✓ Shorter | 23.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 17.7% ✓ Higher | 6.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 ✓ Safer | 110⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 103⚠ High | 66 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (113) ✓ Better | C+ (83) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 58.3% ✓ Higher | 22.1% |
| High School or Higher | 97.1% ✓ Higher | 91.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Poudre School District R-1 | KILLEEN ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 45.0°F | 59.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.4°F | 95.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.4" ✓ Drier | 36.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 168,758 ✓ Larger | 153,708 |
| Median Age | 30.1 ✓ Older | 29.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.7% ✓ Higher | 46.3% |
| Under 18 | 16.9% | 29.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.6% ✓ More | 7.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Collins's cost of living index is 96.6 vs Killeen's 91.8 (US average = 100).
Killeen is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fort Collins leads 15 of 23 categories. Fort Collins wins 15 and Killeen wins 8. 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 Fort Collins to Killeen or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($497,400 vs $175,400 median home), income ($78,977 vs $57,086), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Collins, CO and Killeen, TX are about 772 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.