Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Killeen, TX
VS
Murrieta, CA
🏆 Murrieta 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 ✓ Larger
Murrieta
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$106,925 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
48 ✓ Safer
Population
111,899
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Killeen, TX
Pros
Homes cost $392k less ($175,400 vs $567,700)
Rent averages $1066/mo less ($1,084 vs $2,150)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Murrieta
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.8)
Smaller class sizes — 15.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Murrieta by $49,839/yr
Violent crime (527.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (10.9% vs 6.7%)
Murrieta, CA
Pros
Households earn $49,839 more per year on average
65% less violent crime than Killeen
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.2 pts lower (6.7%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (183.7 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 29.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 96°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $567,700
Higher rents — median is $2,150/mo
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Killeen
Longer commutes — 35.0 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Killeen
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 91.8 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Killeen
Median Home Value
$392k less
$175,400 vs $567,700
Killeen
Summer Heat
8.5°F warmer
July avg high 95.7°F vs 87.2°F
Murrieta
Median Income
$49,839
$106,925 vs $57,086/yr
Murrieta
Violent Crime
65% lower
183.7 vs 527.6 per 100k
Murrieta
Unemployment
4.2 pp lower
6.7% vs 10.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Killeen, TX | Murrieta, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.8 ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $175,400 ✓ Lower | $567,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,084 ✓ Lower | $2,150⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,086 | $106,925 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.9%⚠ High | 6.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.8 min ✓ Shorter | 35.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.1% | 13.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 110⚠ High | 47 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 139⚠ High | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 66 | 45 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) | B- (93) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.1% | 29.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 91.9% | 92.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | KILLEEN ISD | Murrieta Valley Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.5°F | 67.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.7°F ✓ Warmer | 87.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.0" | 13.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 153,708 ✓ Larger | 111,899 |
| Median Age | 29.7 | 35.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 46.3% | 67.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 29.2% ✓ More | 27.2% |
| Over 65 | 7.5% | 12.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Killeen's cost of living index is 91.8 vs Murrieta's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Killeen is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Murrieta leads 14 of 23 categories. Killeen wins 9 and Murrieta 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 Murrieta or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($175,400 vs $567,700 median home), income ($57,086 vs $106,925), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Killeen, TX and Murrieta, CA are about 1,147 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.