Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Killeen, TX
VS
Metairie, LA
🏆 Metairie leads 14 of 22 categories
Killeen
Texas
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.8
Median Household Income
$57,086
Violent Crime Index
139⚠ High
Population
153,708 ✓ Larger
Metairie
Louisiana
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$72,070 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
103⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
140,046
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Killeen, TX
Pros
Homes cost $114k less ($175,400 vs $289,800)
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 Metairie by $14,984/yr
Higher unemployment (10.9% vs 4.3%)
Metairie, LA
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 6.6 pts lower (4.3%)
26% less violent crime than Killeen
Households earn $14,984 more per year on average
More college-educated — 39.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.1)
Cons
Property crime (2629.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Killeen
Median Home Value
$114k less
$175,400 vs $289,800
Killeen
Summer Heat
4.3°F warmer
July avg high 95.7°F vs 91.4°F
Metairie
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 91.1 vs 91.8 (100 = US avg)
Metairie
Median Income
$14,984
$72,070 vs $57,086/yr
Metairie
Violent Crime
26% lower
390.1 vs 527.6 per 100k
Metairie
Unemployment
6.6 pp lower
4.3% vs 10.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Killeen, TX | Metairie, LA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.8 | 91.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $175,400 ✓ Lower | $289,800 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,084 ✓ Lower | $1,120 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,086 | $72,070 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.9%⚠ High | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.8 min | 21.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.1% | 8.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 110⚠ High ✓ Safer | 112⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 139⚠ High | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 66 ✓ Safer | 125⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) | B (102) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.8:1 | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.1% | 39.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 91.9% | 92.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | KILLEEN ISD | Jefferson Parish |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.5°F | 62.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.7°F ✓ Warmer | 91.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.0" ✓ Drier | 68.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 153,708 ✓ Larger | 140,046 |
| Median Age | 29.7 | 42.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 46.3% | 62.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 29.2% ✓ More | 19.6% |
| Over 65 | 7.5% | 21.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Killeen's cost of living index is 91.8 vs Metairie's 91.1 (US average = 100).
Metairie is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Metairie leads 14 of 22 categories. Killeen wins 8 and Metairie 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 Metairie or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($175,400 vs $289,800 median home), income ($57,086 vs $72,070), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Killeen, TX and Metairie, LA are about 456 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.