Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Killeen, TX
VS
Norfolk, VA
🏆 Killeen leads 12 of 23 categories
Killeen
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,086
Violent Crime Index
139⚠ High
Population
153,708
Norfolk
Virginia
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$60,998 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
236,973 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Killeen, TX
Pros
Homes cost $79k less ($175,400 vs $254,200)
Rent averages $104/mo less ($1,084 vs $1,188)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.8)
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 50°F
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Norfolk
Cons
Violent crime (527.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (10.9% vs 6.7%)
Median income trails Norfolk by $3,912/yr
Norfolk, VA
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.2 pts lower (6.7%)
11% less violent crime than Killeen
More college-educated — 32.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $3,912 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 89°F vs 96°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (469.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3772.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Killeen
Key Differences at a Glance
Killeen
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 91.8 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Killeen
Median Home Value
$79k less
$175,400 vs $254,200
Killeen
Summer Heat
7.0°F warmer
July avg high 95.7°F vs 88.7°F
Norfolk
Median Income
$3,912
$60,998 vs $57,086/yr
Norfolk
Violent Crime
11% lower
469.5 vs 527.6 per 100k
Norfolk
Unemployment
4.2 pp lower
6.7% vs 10.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Killeen, TX | Norfolk, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.8 ✓ Cheaper | 97.4 |
| Median Home Value | $175,400 ✓ Lower | $254,200 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,084 ✓ Lower | $1,188 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,086 | $60,998 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.9%⚠ High | 6.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.8 min | 22.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.1% | 7.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 110⚠ High ✓ Safer | 146⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 139⚠ High | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 66 ✓ Safer | 180⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) | B (103) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.8:1 | 12.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.1% | 32.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 91.9% ✓ Higher | 89.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | KILLEEN ISD | Norfolk City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.5°F ✓ Warmer | 50.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.7°F ✓ Warmer | 88.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.0" ✓ Drier | 45.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 3.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 153,708 | 236,973 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 29.7 | 32.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 46.3% ✓ Higher | 44.8% |
| Under 18 | 29.2% ✓ More | 20.3% |
| Over 65 | 7.5% | 12.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Killeen's cost of living index is 91.8 vs Norfolk's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Killeen is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Killeen leads 12 of 23 categories. Killeen wins 12 and Norfolk wins 11. 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 Norfolk or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($175,400 vs $254,200 median home), income ($57,086 vs $60,998), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Killeen, TX and Norfolk, VA are about 1,292 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.