Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Killeen, TX
VS
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY
🏆 Lexington-Fayette urban county leads 15 of 23 categories
Killeen
Texas
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,086
Violent Crime Index
139⚠ High
Population
153,708
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Kentucky
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.1
Median Household Income
$66,087 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
69 ✓ Safer
Population
321,276 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Killeen, TX
Pros
Homes cost $73k less ($175,400 vs $247,900)
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 42°F
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 Lexington-Fayette urban county by $9,001/yr
Higher unemployment (10.9% vs 5.0%)
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.9 pts lower (5.0%)
50% less violent crime than Killeen
Violent crime is well below the national average (262.0 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 46.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $9,001 more per year on average
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Killeen
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 91.8 vs 93.1 (100 = US avg)
Killeen
Median Home Value
$73k less
$175,400 vs $247,900
Killeen
Summer Heat
8.8°F warmer
July avg high 95.7°F vs 86.9°F
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Median Income
$9,001
$66,087 vs $57,086/yr
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Violent Crime
50% lower
262.0 vs 527.6 per 100k
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Unemployment
5.9 pp lower
5.0% vs 10.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Killeen, TX | Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.8 ✓ Cheaper | 93.1 |
| Median Home Value | $175,400 ✓ Lower | $247,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,084 | $1,065 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,086 | $66,087 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.9%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.8 min | 20.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.1% | 9.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 110⚠ High | 85 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 139⚠ High | 69 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 66 ✓ Safer | 108⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) | A- (114) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.8:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.1% | 46.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 91.9% | 92.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | KILLEEN ISD | Fayette County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.5°F ✓ Warmer | 42.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.7°F ✓ Warmer | 86.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.0" ✓ Drier | 49.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 14.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 153,708 | 321,276 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 29.7 | 35.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 46.3% | 54.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 29.2% ✓ More | 20.6% |
| Over 65 | 7.5% | 14.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Killeen's cost of living index is 91.8 vs Lexington-Fayette urban county's 93.1 (US average = 100).
Killeen is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lexington-Fayette urban county leads 15 of 23 categories. Killeen wins 8 and Lexington-Fayette urban county wins 15. 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 Lexington-Fayette urban county or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($175,400 vs $247,900 median home), income ($57,086 vs $66,087), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Killeen, TX and Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY are about 894 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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