Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Killeen, TX
VS
McAllen, TX
🏆 McAllen leads 17 of 23 categories
Killeen
Texas
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.8
Median Household Income
$57,086 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
139⚠ High
Population
153,708 ✓ Larger
McAllen
Texas
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,326
Violent Crime Index
39 ✓ Safer
Population
142,722
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Killeen, TX
Pros
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.8)
Cons
Violent crime (527.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (10.9% vs 5.4%)
Cost of living runs 6% higher than McAllen
McAllen, TX
Pros
72% less violent crime than Killeen
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.5 pts lower (5.4%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (150.0 vs 380/100k)
Rent averages $129/mo less ($955 vs $1,084)
More college-educated — 31.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Homes cost $17k less ($158,700 vs $175,400)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Killeen
Median Income
$760
$57,086 vs $56,326/yr
McAllen
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 85.6 vs 91.8 (100 = US avg)
McAllen
Violent Crime
72% lower
150.0 vs 527.6 per 100k
McAllen
Median Home Value
$17k less
$158,700 vs $175,400
McAllen
Unemployment
5.5 pp lower
5.4% vs 10.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Killeen, TX | McAllen, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.8 | 85.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $175,400 | $158,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,084 | $955 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,086 ✓ Higher | $56,326 |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.9%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.8 min | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.1% | 9.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 110⚠ High | 59 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 139⚠ High | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 66 ✓ Safer | 87 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.8:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.1% | 31.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 91.9% ✓ Higher | 78.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | KILLEEN ISD | MCALLEN ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.5°F | 71.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.7°F | 97.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.0" | 27.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 153,708 ✓ Larger | 142,722 |
| Median Age | 29.7 | 32.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 46.3% | 59.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 29.2% ✓ More | 28.3% |
| Over 65 | 7.5% | 13.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Killeen's cost of living index is 91.8 vs McAllen's 85.6 (US average = 100).
McAllen is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, McAllen leads 17 of 23 categories. Killeen wins 6 and McAllen wins 17. 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 McAllen or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($175,400 vs $158,700 median home), income ($57,086 vs $56,326), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Killeen, TX and McAllen, TX are about 337 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.