Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Killeen, TX
VS
Portsmouth, VA
🏆 Killeen leads 14 of 23 categories
Killeen
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,086
Violent Crime Index
139⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
153,708 ✓ Larger
Portsmouth
Virginia
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$57,154 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
198⚠ High
Population
97,384
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Killeen, TX
Pros
30% less violent crime than Portsmouth
Homes cost $38k less ($175,400 vs $213,300)
Rent averages $141/mo less ($1,084 vs $1,225)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.8)
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 49°F
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Portsmouth
Cons
Violent crime (527.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (10.9% vs 6.6%)
Portsmouth, VA
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.3 pts lower (6.6%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 88°F vs 96°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (752.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3860.8/100k) 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
Violent Crime
30% lower
527.6 vs 752.4 per 100k
Killeen
Median Home Value
$38k less
$175,400 vs $213,300
Killeen
Summer Heat
7.7°F warmer
July avg high 95.7°F vs 88.0°F
Portsmouth
Unemployment
4.3 pp lower
6.6% vs 10.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Killeen, TX | Portsmouth, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.8 ✓ Cheaper | 97.4 |
| Median Home Value | $175,400 ✓ Lower | $213,300 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,084 ✓ Lower | $1,225 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,086 | $57,154 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.9%⚠ High | 6.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.8 min | 23.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.1% | 6.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 110⚠ High ✓ Safer | 192⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer | 198⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 66 ✓ Safer | 184⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) | B- (94) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.8:1 | 13.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.1% ✓ Higher | 21.2% |
| High School or Higher | 91.9% ✓ Higher | 89.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | KILLEEN ISD | Portsmouth City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.5°F ✓ Warmer | 48.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.7°F ✓ Warmer | 88.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.0" ✓ Drier | 50.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 3.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 153,708 ✓ Larger | 97,384 |
| Median Age | 29.7 | 35.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 46.3% | 56.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 29.2% ✓ More | 23.1% |
| Over 65 | 7.5% | 15.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Killeen's cost of living index is 91.8 vs Portsmouth's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Killeen is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Killeen leads 14 of 23 categories. Killeen wins 14 and Portsmouth 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 Portsmouth or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($175,400 vs $213,300 median home), income ($57,086 vs $57,154), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Killeen, TX and Portsmouth, VA are about 1,285 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.