Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Killeen, TX
VS
Little Rock, AR
🏆 Little Rock leads 14 of 23 categories
Killeen
Texas
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.8
Median Household Income
$57,086
Violent Crime Index
139⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
153,708
Little Rock
Arkansas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,697 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
440⚠ High
Population
202,218 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Killeen, TX
Pros
68% less violent crime than Little Rock
Homes cost $30k less ($175,400 vs $205,800)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.8)
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 51°F
Cons
Violent crime (527.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (10.9% vs 4.4%)
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Little Rock
Little Rock, AR
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 6.5 pts lower (4.4%)
More college-educated — 44.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.1)
Rent averages $78/mo less ($1,006 vs $1,084)
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Killeen
Cons
Violent crime (1672.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (5214.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Killeen
Violent Crime
68% lower
527.6 vs 1672.0 per 100k
Killeen
Median Home Value
$30k less
$175,400 vs $205,800
Killeen
Summer Heat
4.0°F warmer
July avg high 95.7°F vs 91.7°F
Little Rock
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 89.1 vs 91.8 (100 = US avg)
Little Rock
Median Income
$1,611
$58,697 vs $57,086/yr
Little Rock
Unemployment
6.5 pp lower
4.4% vs 10.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Killeen, TX | Little Rock, AR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.8 | 89.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $175,400 ✓ Lower | $205,800 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,084 | $1,006 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,086 | $58,697 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.9%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.8 min | 18.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.1% | 8.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 110⚠ High ✓ Safer | 363⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer | 440⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 66 ✓ Safer | 248⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.8:1 | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.1% | 44.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 91.9% | 92.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | KILLEEN ISD | LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.5°F ✓ Warmer | 50.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.7°F ✓ Warmer | 91.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.0" ✓ Drier | 52.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 3.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 153,708 | 202,218 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 29.7 | 36.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 46.3% | 54.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 29.2% ✓ More | 23.5% |
| Over 65 | 7.5% | 15.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Killeen's cost of living index is 91.8 vs Little Rock's 89.1 (US average = 100).
Little Rock is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Little Rock leads 14 of 23 categories. Killeen wins 9 and Little Rock wins 14. 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 Little Rock or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($175,400 vs $205,800 median home), income ($57,086 vs $58,697), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Killeen, TX and Little Rock, AR are about 401 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.