Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Killeen, TX
VS
New Bedford, MA
🏆 Killeen leads 14 of 23 categories
Killeen
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,086 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
139⚠ High
Population
153,708 ✓ Larger
New Bedford
Massachusetts
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$54,604
Violent Crime Index
93 ✓ Safer
Population
100,620
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Killeen, TX
Pros
Homes cost $116k less ($175,400 vs $291,300)
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 39°F
9% cheaper overall cost of living than New Bedford
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.8)
More college-educated — 22.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (527.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (10.9% vs 7.2%)
New Bedford, MA
Pros
33% less violent crime than Killeen
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.7 pts lower (7.2%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 96°F
Smaller class sizes — 11.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Killeen
Key Differences at a Glance
Killeen
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 91.8 vs 100.9 (100 = US avg)
Killeen
Median Income
$2,482
$57,086 vs $54,604/yr
Killeen
Median Home Value
$116k less
$175,400 vs $291,300
Killeen
Summer Heat
13.2°F warmer
July avg high 95.7°F vs 82.5°F
New Bedford
Violent Crime
33% lower
353.2 vs 527.6 per 100k
New Bedford
Unemployment
3.7 pp lower
7.2% vs 10.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Killeen, TX | New Bedford, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.8 ✓ Cheaper | 100.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $175,400 ✓ Lower | $291,300 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,084 | $1,026 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,086 ✓ Higher | $54,604 |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.9%⚠ High | 7.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.8 min ✓ Shorter | 25.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.1% ✓ Higher | 4.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 110⚠ High | 82 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 139⚠ High | 93 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 66 | 65 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) | B- (94) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.8:1 | 11.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.1% ✓ Higher | 16.4% |
| High School or Higher | 91.9% ✓ Higher | 76.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | KILLEEN ISD | New Bedford |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.5°F ✓ Warmer | 39.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.7°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.0" ✓ Drier | 45.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 32.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 153,708 ✓ Larger | 100,620 |
| Median Age | 29.7 | 36.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 46.3% ✓ Higher | 39.9% |
| Under 18 | 29.2% ✓ More | 23.5% |
| Over 65 | 7.5% | 15.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Killeen's cost of living index is 91.8 vs New Bedford's 100.9 (US average = 100).
Killeen is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Killeen leads 14 of 23 categories. Killeen wins 14 and New Bedford wins 9. 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 New Bedford or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($175,400 vs $291,300 median home), income ($57,086 vs $54,604), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Killeen, TX and New Bedford, MA are about 1,651 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.