Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Killeen, TX
VS
Kirkland, WA
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Killeen
Texas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,086
Violent Crime Index
139⚠ High
Population
153,708 ✓ Larger
Kirkland
Washington
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$135,608 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
16 ✓ Safer
Population
92,015
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Killeen, TX
Pros
Homes cost $762k less ($175,400 vs $937,700)
Rent averages $1166/mo less ($1,084 vs $2,250)
21% cheaper overall cost of living than Kirkland
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 47°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.8)
Cons
Median income trails Kirkland by $78,522/yr
Violent crime (527.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (10.9% vs 4.7%)
Kirkland, WA
Pros
Households earn $78,522 more per year on average
89% less violent crime than Killeen
Stronger job market — unemployment is 6.2 pts lower (4.7%)
More college-educated — 62.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (60.6 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 96°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $937,700
Higher rents — median is $2,250/mo
Cost of living runs 21% higher than Killeen
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Key Differences at a Glance
Killeen
Cost of Living
21% cheaper
COL index 91.8 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Killeen
Median Home Value
$762k less
$175,400 vs $937,700
Killeen
Summer Heat
19.2°F warmer
July avg high 95.7°F vs 76.5°F
Kirkland
Median Income
$78,522
$135,608 vs $57,086/yr
Kirkland
Violent Crime
89% lower
60.6 vs 527.6 per 100k
Kirkland
Unemployment
6.2 pp lower
4.7% vs 10.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Killeen, TX | Kirkland, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.8 ✓ Cheaper | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $175,400 ✓ Lower | $937,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,084 ✓ Lower | $2,250⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,086 | $135,608 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.9%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.8 min ✓ Shorter | 25.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.1% | 24.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 110⚠ High | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 139⚠ High | 16 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 66 ✓ Safer | 96 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) | C+ (89) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.8:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.1% | 62.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 91.9% | 96.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | KILLEEN ISD | Lake Washington Institute of Technology |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.5°F ✓ Warmer | 47.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.7°F ✓ Warmer | 76.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.0" ✓ Drier | 37.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 3.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 153,708 ✓ Larger | 92,015 |
| Median Age | 29.7 | 38.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 46.3% | 62.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 29.2% ✓ More | 20.0% |
| Over 65 | 7.5% | 14.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Killeen's cost of living index is 91.8 vs Kirkland's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Killeen is 21% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Killeen wins 11 and Kirkland 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 Killeen to Kirkland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($175,400 vs $937,700 median home), income ($57,086 vs $135,608), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Killeen, TX and Kirkland, WA are about 1,726 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.