Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Gainesville, FL
VS
Killeen, TX
🏆 Killeen leads 14 of 22 categories
Gainesville
Florida
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.9
Median Household Income
$43,783
Violent Crime Index
194⚠ High
Population
142,414
Killeen
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,086 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
139⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
153,708 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Gainesville, FL
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.4 pts lower (5.5%)
More college-educated — 50.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 60°F
Cons
Violent crime (738.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Killeen by $13,303/yr
Property crime (2703.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Killeen
Killeen, TX
Pros
29% less violent crime than Gainesville
Households earn $13,303 more per year on average
Homes cost $41k less ($175,400 vs $216,600)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.8)
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Gainesville
Cons
Violent crime (527.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (10.9% vs 5.5%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Gainesville
Unemployment
5.4 pp lower
5.5% vs 10.9% unemployment
Killeen
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 91.8 vs 96.9 (100 = US avg)
Killeen
Median Income
$13,303
$57,086 vs $43,783/yr
Killeen
Violent Crime
29% lower
527.6 vs 738.0 per 100k
Killeen
Median Home Value
$41k less
$175,400 vs $216,600
Killeen
Summer Heat
4.6°F warmer
July avg high 95.7°F vs 91.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Gainesville, FL | Killeen, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.9 | 91.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $216,600 | $175,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,151 | $1,084 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $43,783 | $57,086 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 10.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.8 min ✓ Shorter | 23.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.8% ✓ Higher | 6.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 168⚠ 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 | 129⚠ High | 66 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (111) ✓ Better | C+ (83) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.2:1 | 15.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 50.0% ✓ Higher | 22.1% |
| High School or Higher | 93.6% ✓ Higher | 91.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALACHUA | KILLEEN ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.1°F ✓ Warmer | 59.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.1°F | 95.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.6" | 36.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 142,414 | 153,708 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 26.0 | 29.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 38.5% | 46.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 13.6% | 29.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.1% ✓ More | 7.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Gainesville's cost of living index is 96.9 vs Killeen's 91.8 (US average = 100).
Killeen is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Killeen leads 14 of 22 categories. Gainesville 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 Gainesville to Killeen or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($216,600 vs $175,400 median home), income ($43,783 vs $57,086), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Gainesville, FL and Killeen, TX are about 921 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.