Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Killeen, TX
VS
Raleigh, NC
🏆 Raleigh leads 13 of 23 categories
Killeen
Texas
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,086
Violent Crime Index
139⚠ High
Population
153,708
Raleigh
North Carolina
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0
Median Household Income
$78,631 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
465,517 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Killeen, TX
Pros
Homes cost $172k less ($175,400 vs $347,000)
Rent averages $287/mo less ($1,084 vs $1,371)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.8)
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 52°F
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Raleigh
Cons
Median income trails Raleigh by $21,545/yr
Violent crime (527.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (10.9% vs 4.5%)
Raleigh, NC
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 6.4 pts lower (4.5%)
Households earn $21,545 more per year on average
7% less violent crime than Killeen
More college-educated — 52.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 91°F vs 96°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $347,000
Violent crime (488.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,371/mo
Property crime (2819.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Killeen
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 91.8 vs 98.0 (100 = US avg)
Killeen
Median Home Value
$172k less
$175,400 vs $347,000
Killeen
Summer Heat
5.1°F warmer
July avg high 95.7°F vs 90.6°F
Raleigh
Median Income
$21,545
$78,631 vs $57,086/yr
Raleigh
Violent Crime
7% lower
488.8 vs 527.6 per 100k
Raleigh
Unemployment
6.4 pp lower
4.5% vs 10.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Killeen, TX | Raleigh, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.8 ✓ Cheaper | 98.0 |
| Median Home Value | $175,400 ✓ Lower | $347,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,084 ✓ Lower | $1,371⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,086 | $78,631 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.9%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.8 min | 23.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.1% | 20.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 110⚠ High ✓ Safer | 131⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 139⚠ High | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 66 ✓ Safer | 134⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) | A- (117) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.8:1 | 15.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.1% | 52.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 91.9% | 92.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | KILLEEN ISD | Wake County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.5°F ✓ Warmer | 51.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.7°F ✓ Warmer | 90.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.0" ✓ Drier | 49.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 4.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 153,708 | 465,517 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 29.7 | 34.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 46.3% | 51.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 29.2% ✓ More | 20.0% |
| Over 65 | 7.5% | 11.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Killeen's cost of living index is 91.8 vs Raleigh's 98.0 (US average = 100).
Killeen is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Raleigh leads 13 of 23 categories. Killeen wins 10 and Raleigh wins 13. 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 Raleigh or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($175,400 vs $347,000 median home), income ($57,086 vs $78,631), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Killeen, TX and Raleigh, NC are about 1,146 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.