Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Killeen, TX
VS
Madison, WI
🏆 Madison leads 14 of 23 categories
Killeen
Texas
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,086
Violent Crime Index
139⚠ High
Population
153,708
Madison
Wisconsin
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.8
Median Household Income
$74,895 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
67 ✓ Safer
Population
268,516 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Killeen, TX
Pros
Homes cost $151k less ($175,400 vs $326,600)
Rent averages $207/mo less ($1,084 vs $1,291)
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 28°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.8)
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Madison
Cons
Violent crime (527.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Madison by $17,809/yr
Higher unemployment (10.9% vs 2.6%)
Madison, WI
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 8.3 pts lower (2.6%)
51% less violent crime than Killeen
Households earn $17,809 more per year on average
More college-educated — 58.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (256.0 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $326,600
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Killeen
Key Differences at a Glance
Killeen
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 91.8 vs 95.8 (100 = US avg)
Killeen
Median Home Value
$151k less
$175,400 vs $326,600
Killeen
Summer Heat
13.5°F warmer
July avg high 95.7°F vs 82.2°F
Madison
Median Income
$17,809
$74,895 vs $57,086/yr
Madison
Violent Crime
51% lower
256.0 vs 527.6 per 100k
Madison
Unemployment
8.3 pp lower
2.6% vs 10.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Killeen, TX | Madison, WI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.8 ✓ Cheaper | 95.8 |
| Median Home Value | $175,400 ✓ Lower | $326,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,084 ✓ Lower | $1,291 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,086 | $74,895 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.9%⚠ High | 2.6% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.8 min | 19.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.1% | 15.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 110⚠ High | 76 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 139⚠ High | 67 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 66 ✓ Safer | 89 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) | A (124) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.8:1 | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.1% | 58.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 91.9% | 95.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | KILLEEN ISD | Madison Metropolitan School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.5°F ✓ Warmer | 27.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.7°F ✓ Warmer | 82.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.0" ✓ Drier | 39.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 38.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 153,708 | 268,516 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 29.7 | 31.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 46.3% | 47.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 29.2% ✓ More | 16.2% |
| Over 65 | 7.5% | 12.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Killeen's cost of living index is 91.8 vs Madison's 95.8 (US average = 100).
Killeen is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Madison leads 14 of 23 categories. Killeen wins 9 and Madison 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 Madison or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($175,400 vs $326,600 median home), income ($57,086 vs $74,895), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Killeen, TX and Madison, WI are about 946 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.