Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Killeen, TX
VS
McKinney, TX
🏆 McKinney 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
McKinney
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$113,286 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
31 ✓ Safer
Population
196,160 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Killeen, TX
Pros
Homes cost $225k less ($175,400 vs $400,400)
Rent averages $656/mo less ($1,084 vs $1,740)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than McKinney
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.8)
Cons
Median income trails McKinney by $56,200/yr
Violent crime (527.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (10.9% vs 3.7%)
McKinney, TX
Pros
Households earn $56,200 more per year on average
78% less violent crime than Killeen
Stronger job market — unemployment is 7.2 pts lower (3.7%)
More college-educated — 52.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (117.3 vs 380/100k)
Smaller class sizes — 14.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $400,400
Higher rents — median is $1,740/mo
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Killeen
Longer commutes — 28.3 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Killeen
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 91.8 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Killeen
Median Home Value
$225k less
$175,400 vs $400,400
McKinney
Median Income
$56,200
$113,286 vs $57,086/yr
McKinney
Violent Crime
78% lower
117.3 vs 527.6 per 100k
McKinney
Unemployment
7.2 pp lower
3.7% vs 10.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Killeen, TX | McKinney, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.8 ✓ Cheaper | 103.3⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $175,400 ✓ Lower | $400,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,084 ✓ Lower | $1,740⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,086 | $113,286 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.9%⚠ High | 3.7% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.8 min ✓ Shorter | 28.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.1% | 18.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 110⚠ High | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 139⚠ High | 31 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 66 | 39 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) | A+ (130) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.8:1 | 14.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.1% | 52.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 91.9% | 94.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | KILLEEN ISD | MCKINNEY ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.5°F ✓ Warmer | 56.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.7°F ✓ Warmer | 94.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.0" ✓ Drier | 42.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 2.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 153,708 | 196,160 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 29.7 | 36.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 46.3% | 64.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 29.2% ✓ More | 27.5% |
| Over 65 | 7.5% | 10.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Killeen's cost of living index is 91.8 vs McKinney's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Killeen is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, McKinney leads 14 of 23 categories. Killeen wins 9 and McKinney 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 McKinney or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($175,400 vs $400,400 median home), income ($57,086 vs $113,286), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Killeen, TX and McKinney, TX are about 159 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.