Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hemet, CA
VS
Killeen, TX
🏆 Killeen leads 13 of 22 categories
Hemet
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$49,901
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
89,651
Killeen
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,086 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
139⚠ High
Population
153,708 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Hemet, CA
Pros
19% less violent crime than Killeen
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (9.5%)
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 60°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,357/mo
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Killeen
Median income trails Killeen by $7,185/yr
Longer commutes — 36.8 min average each way
Killeen, TX
Pros
Homes cost $102k less ($175,400 vs $277,200)
Rent averages $273/mo less ($1,084 vs $1,357)
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Hemet
Households earn $7,185 more per year on average
More college-educated — 22.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (527.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (10.9% vs 9.5%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Hemet
Violent Crime
19% lower
424.8 vs 527.6 per 100k
Hemet
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
9.5% vs 10.9% unemployment
Killeen
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 91.8 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Killeen
Median Income
$7,185
$57,086 vs $49,901/yr
Killeen
Median Home Value
$102k less
$175,400 vs $277,200
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hemet, CA | Killeen, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High | 91.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $277,200 | $175,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,357⚠ High | $1,084 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $49,901 | $57,086 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 10.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 36.8 min⚠ High | 23.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.6% ✓ Higher | 6.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 98 ✓ Safer | 110⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 78 | 66 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (78) | C+ (83) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.9:1 | 15.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 13.9% | 22.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 79.9% | 91.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hemet Unified | KILLEEN ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.8°F ✓ Warmer | 59.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.1°F | 95.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.2" ✓ Drier | 36.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 89,651 | 153,708 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.0 ✓ Older | 29.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.1% ✓ Higher | 46.3% |
| Under 18 | 24.1% | 29.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 22.4% ✓ More | 7.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hemet's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Killeen's 91.8 (US average = 100).
Killeen is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Killeen leads 13 of 22 categories. Hemet wins 9 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 Hemet to Killeen or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($277,200 vs $175,400 median home), income ($49,901 vs $57,086), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hemet, CA and Killeen, TX are about 1,137 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.