Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fresno, CA
VS
Killeen, TX
🏆 Fresno leads 12 of 22 categories
Fresno
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$63,001 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
194⚠ High
Population
541,528 ✓ 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.
Fresno, CA
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (9.0%)
Households earn $5,915 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $321,800
Violent crime (735.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Killeen
Property crime (3271.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Killeen, TX
Pros
Homes cost $146k less ($175,400 vs $321,800)
28% less violent crime than Fresno
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Fresno
Rent averages $143/mo less ($1,084 vs $1,227)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.8)
Smaller class sizes — 15.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (527.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (10.9% vs 9.0%)
Median income trails Fresno by $5,915/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Fresno
Median Income
$5,915
$63,001 vs $57,086/yr
Fresno
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
9.0% vs 10.9% unemployment
Killeen
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 91.8 vs 105.0 (100 = US avg)
Killeen
Violent Crime
28% lower
527.6 vs 735.5 per 100k
Killeen
Median Home Value
$146k less
$175,400 vs $321,800
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fresno, CA | Killeen, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.0⚠ High | 91.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $321,800⚠ High | $175,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,227 | $1,084 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,001 ✓ Higher | $57,086 |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 10.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.3 min ✓ Shorter | 23.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.8% ✓ Higher | 6.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 178⚠ High | 110⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 194⚠ High | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 156⚠ High | 66 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) ✓ Better | C+ (83) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.3:1 | 15.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.4% ✓ Higher | 22.1% |
| High School or Higher | 79.7% | 91.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fresno Unified | KILLEEN ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.4°F | 59.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 97.7°F ✓ Warmer | 95.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.4" ✓ Drier | 36.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 541,528 ✓ Larger | 153,708 |
| Median Age | 32.1 ✓ Older | 29.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.1% ✓ Higher | 46.3% |
| Under 18 | 27.8% | 29.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.9% ✓ More | 7.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fresno's cost of living index is 105.0 vs Killeen's 91.8 (US average = 100).
Killeen is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Fresno leads 12 of 22 categories. Fresno wins 12 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 Fresno to Killeen or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($321,800 vs $175,400 median home), income ($63,001 vs $57,086), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fresno, CA and Killeen, TX are about 1,321 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.