Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Killeen, TX
VS
Lafayette, LA
🏆 Lafayette leads 12 of 22 categories
Killeen
Texas
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.8
Median Household Income
$57,086
Violent Crime Index
139⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
153,708 ✓ Larger
Lafayette
Louisiana
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,850 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
281⚠ High
Population
121,706
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Killeen, TX
Pros
51% less violent crime than Lafayette
Homes cost $60k less ($175,400 vs $234,900)
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 6.1%)
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Lafayette
Lafayette, LA
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.8 pts lower (6.1%)
More college-educated — 40.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.0)
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Killeen
Cons
Violent crime (1066.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4347.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Killeen
Violent Crime
51% lower
527.6 vs 1066.1 per 100k
Killeen
Median Home Value
$60k less
$175,400 vs $234,900
Killeen
Summer Heat
4.7°F warmer
July avg high 95.7°F vs 91.0°F
Lafayette
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 87.0 vs 91.8 (100 = US avg)
Lafayette
Median Income
$1,764
$58,850 vs $57,086/yr
Lafayette
Unemployment
4.8 pp lower
6.1% vs 10.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Killeen, TX | Lafayette, LA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.8 | 87.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $175,400 ✓ Lower | $234,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,084 | $1,022 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,086 | $58,850 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.9%⚠ High | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.8 min | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.1% | 8.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 110⚠ High ✓ Safer | 251⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer | 281⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 66 ✓ Safer | 207⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) | B (100) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.1% | 40.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 91.9% ✓ Higher | 90.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | KILLEEN ISD | Lafayette Parish |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.5°F | 61.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.7°F ✓ Warmer | 91.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.0" ✓ Drier | 64.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 153,708 ✓ Larger | 121,706 |
| Median Age | 29.7 | 36.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 46.3% | 56.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 29.2% ✓ More | 21.2% |
| Over 65 | 7.5% | 16.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Killeen's cost of living index is 91.8 vs Lafayette's 87.0 (US average = 100).
Lafayette is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Lafayette leads 12 of 22 categories. Killeen wins 10 and Lafayette wins 12. 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 Lafayette or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($175,400 vs $234,900 median home), income ($57,086 vs $58,850), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Killeen, TX and Lafayette, LA are about 344 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.