Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Garland, TX
VS
Killeen, TX
🏆 Garland leads 12 of 23 categories
Garland
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,044 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
61 ✓ Safer
Population
244,026 ✓ Larger
Killeen
Texas
11
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.
Garland, TX
Pros
56% less violent crime than Killeen
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.7 pts lower (5.2%)
Households earn $13,958 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (232.7 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,421/mo
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Killeen
Longer commutes — 29.7 min average each way
Killeen, TX
Pros
Rent averages $337/mo less ($1,084 vs $1,421)
Homes cost $54k less ($175,400 vs $229,000)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Garland
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.8)
Cons
Violent crime (527.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Garland by $13,958/yr
Higher unemployment (10.9% vs 5.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Garland
Median Income
$13,958
$71,044 vs $57,086/yr
Garland
Violent Crime
56% lower
232.7 vs 527.6 per 100k
Garland
Unemployment
5.7 pp lower
5.2% vs 10.9% unemployment
Killeen
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 91.8 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Killeen
Median Home Value
$54k less
$175,400 vs $229,000
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Garland, TX | Killeen, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 91.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $229,000 | $175,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,421⚠ High | $1,084 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,044 ✓ Higher | $57,086 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 10.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.7 min⚠ High | 23.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.4% ✓ Higher | 6.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 75 ✓ Safer | 110⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 61 ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 95 | 66 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) ✓ Better | C+ (83) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.1% ✓ Higher | 22.1% |
| High School or Higher | 78.6% | 91.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | GARLAND ISD | KILLEEN ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.9°F | 59.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.3°F | 95.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.8" | 36.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 244,026 ✓ Larger | 153,708 |
| Median Age | 34.4 ✓ Older | 29.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.0% ✓ Higher | 46.3% |
| Under 18 | 25.8% | 29.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.4% ✓ More | 7.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Garland's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Killeen's 91.8 (US average = 100).
Killeen is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Garland leads 12 of 23 categories. Garland wins 12 and Killeen wins 11. 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 Garland to Killeen or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($229,000 vs $175,400 median home), income ($71,044 vs $57,086), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Garland, TX and Killeen, TX are about 142 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.