Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Killeen, TX
VS
Pasadena, 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
Population
153,708 ✓ Larger
Pasadena
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$97,818 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
126⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
137,554
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Killeen, TX
Pros
Homes cost $806k less ($175,400 vs $981,600)
Rent averages $1016/mo less ($1,084 vs $2,100)
24% cheaper overall cost of living than Pasadena
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.8)
Smaller class sizes — 15.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Pasadena by $40,732/yr
Violent crime (527.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (10.9% vs 5.2%)
Pasadena, CA
Pros
Households earn $40,732 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.7 pts lower (5.2%)
9% less violent crime than Killeen
More college-educated — 54.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 60°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 89°F vs 96°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $981,600
Higher rents — median is $2,100/mo
Violent crime (480.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 24% higher than Killeen
Key Differences at a Glance
Killeen
Cost of Living
24% cheaper
COL index 91.8 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Killeen
Median Home Value
$806k less
$175,400 vs $981,600
Killeen
Summer Heat
6.6°F warmer
July avg high 95.7°F vs 89.1°F
Pasadena
Median Income
$40,732
$97,818 vs $57,086/yr
Pasadena
Violent Crime
9% lower
480.4 vs 527.6 per 100k
Pasadena
Unemployment
5.7 pp lower
5.2% vs 10.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Killeen, TX | Pasadena, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.8 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $175,400 ✓ Lower | $981,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,084 ✓ Lower | $2,100⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,086 | $97,818 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.9%⚠ High | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.8 min ✓ Shorter | 27.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.1% | 20.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 110⚠ High ✓ Safer | 127⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 139⚠ High | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 66 ✓ Safer | 128⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) | B+ (105) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.1% | 54.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 91.9% ✓ Higher | 89.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | KILLEEN ISD | Pasadena Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.5°F | 68.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.7°F ✓ Warmer | 89.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.0" | 20.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 153,708 ✓ Larger | 137,554 |
| Median Age | 29.7 | 39.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 46.3% ✓ Higher | 42.1% |
| Under 18 | 29.2% ✓ More | 17.0% |
| Over 65 | 7.5% | 16.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Killeen's cost of living index is 91.8 vs Pasadena's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Killeen is 24% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Killeen leads 12 of 22 categories. Killeen wins 12 and Pasadena 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 Pasadena or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($175,400 vs $981,600 median home), income ($57,086 vs $97,818), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Killeen, TX and Pasadena, CA are about 1,204 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.