Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Killeen, TX
VS
Portland, OR
🏆 Killeen leads 13 of 23 categories
Killeen
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,086
Violent Crime Index
139⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
153,708
Portland
Oregon
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$85,876 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
190⚠ High
Population
646,101 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Killeen, TX
Pros
Homes cost $348k less ($175,400 vs $523,100)
Rent averages $446/mo less ($1,084 vs $1,530)
27% less violent crime than Portland
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Portland
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 47°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.8)
Cons
Median income trails Portland by $28,790/yr
Violent crime (527.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (10.9% vs 5.6%)
Portland, OR
Pros
Households earn $28,790 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.3 pts lower (5.6%)
More college-educated — 52.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 96°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $523,100
Higher rents — median is $1,530/mo
Violent crime (720.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Killeen
Key Differences at a Glance
Killeen
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 91.8 vs 106.6 (100 = US avg)
Killeen
Violent Crime
27% lower
527.6 vs 720.1 per 100k
Killeen
Median Home Value
$348k less
$175,400 vs $523,100
Killeen
Summer Heat
15.4°F warmer
July avg high 95.7°F vs 80.3°F
Portland
Median Income
$28,790
$85,876 vs $57,086/yr
Portland
Unemployment
5.3 pp lower
5.6% vs 10.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Killeen, TX | Portland, OR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.8 ✓ Cheaper | 106.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $175,400 ✓ Lower | $523,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,084 ✓ Lower | $1,530⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,086 | $85,876 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.9%⚠ High | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.8 min ✓ Shorter | 24.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.1% | 22.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 110⚠ High ✓ Safer | 219⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer | 190⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 66 ✓ Safer | 263⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) | A- (112) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.1% | 52.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 91.9% | 93.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | KILLEEN ISD | Portland SD 1J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.5°F ✓ Warmer | 46.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.7°F ✓ Warmer | 80.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.0" ✓ Drier | 44.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 3.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 153,708 | 646,101 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 29.7 | 38.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 46.3% | 53.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 29.2% ✓ More | 16.8% |
| Over 65 | 7.5% | 14.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Killeen's cost of living index is 91.8 vs Portland's 106.6 (US average = 100).
Killeen is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Killeen leads 13 of 23 categories. Killeen wins 13 and Portland 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 Portland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($175,400 vs $523,100 median home), income ($57,086 vs $85,876), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Killeen, TX and Portland, OR are about 1,669 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.