Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Killeen, TX
VS
Oakland, CA
🏆 Killeen leads 12 of 22 categories
Killeen
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,086
Violent Crime Index
139⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
153,708
Oakland
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$94,389 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
507⚠ High
Population
437,825 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Killeen, TX
Pros
Homes cost $708k less ($175,400 vs $883,800)
Rent averages $765/mo less ($1,084 vs $1,849)
73% less violent crime than Oakland
26% cheaper overall cost of living than Oakland
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.8)
Cons
Median income trails Oakland by $37,303/yr
Violent crime (527.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (10.9% vs 5.8%)
Oakland, CA
Pros
Households earn $37,303 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.1 pts lower (5.8%)
More college-educated — 48.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 72°F vs 96°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $883,800
Higher rents — median is $1,849/mo
Cost of living runs 26% higher than Killeen
Violent crime (1925.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Killeen
Cost of Living
26% cheaper
COL index 91.8 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Killeen
Violent Crime
73% lower
527.6 vs 1925.3 per 100k
Killeen
Median Home Value
$708k less
$175,400 vs $883,800
Killeen
Summer Heat
24.1°F warmer
July avg high 95.7°F vs 71.6°F
Oakland
Median Income
$37,303
$94,389 vs $57,086/yr
Oakland
Unemployment
5.1 pp lower
5.8% vs 10.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Killeen, TX | Oakland, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.8 ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $175,400 ✓ Lower | $883,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,084 ✓ Lower | $1,849⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,086 | $94,389 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.9%⚠ High | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.8 min ✓ Shorter | 31.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.1% | 20.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 110⚠ High ✓ Safer | 400⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer | 507⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 66 ✓ Safer | 344⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) | B (98) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.1% | 48.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 91.9% ✓ Higher | 85.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | KILLEEN ISD | Oakland Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.5°F | 59.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.7°F ✓ Warmer | 71.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.0" | 22.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 153,708 | 437,825 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 29.7 | 37.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 46.3% ✓ Higher | 42.1% |
| Under 18 | 29.2% ✓ More | 19.1% |
| Over 65 | 7.5% | 14.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Killeen's cost of living index is 91.8 vs Oakland's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Killeen is 26% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Killeen leads 12 of 22 categories. Killeen wins 12 and Oakland wins 10. 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 Oakland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($175,400 vs $883,800 median home), income ($57,086 vs $94,389), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Killeen, TX and Oakland, CA are about 1,466 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.