Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Killeen, TX
VS
Roanoke, VA
🏆 Roanoke leads 12 of 23 categories
Killeen
Texas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.8
Median Household Income
$57,086 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
139⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
153,708 ✓ Larger
Roanoke
Virginia
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$51,523
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High
Population
99,213
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Killeen, TX
Pros
15% less violent crime than Roanoke
Households earn $5,563 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 47°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.8)
Cons
Violent crime (527.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (10.9% vs 6.6%)
Roanoke, VA
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.3 pts lower (6.6%)
Rent averages $167/mo less ($917 vs $1,084)
More college-educated — 28.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.9)
Cooler summers — July highs near 88°F vs 96°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (620.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4055.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Killeen by $5,563/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Killeen
Median Income
$5,563
$57,086 vs $51,523/yr
Killeen
Violent Crime
15% lower
527.6 vs 620.4 per 100k
Killeen
Summer Heat
7.6°F warmer
July avg high 95.7°F vs 88.1°F
Roanoke
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 90.9 vs 91.8 (100 = US avg)
Roanoke
Median Home Value
$13k less
$162,000 vs $175,400
Roanoke
Unemployment
4.3 pp lower
6.6% vs 10.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Killeen, TX | Roanoke, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.8 | 90.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $175,400 | $162,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,084 | $917 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,086 ✓ Higher | $51,523 |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.9%⚠ High | 6.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.8 min | 20.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.1% | 9.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 110⚠ High ✓ Safer | 175⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer | 163⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 66 ✓ Safer | 193⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) | B (100) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.8:1 | 12.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.1% | 28.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 91.9% ✓ Higher | 89.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | KILLEEN ISD | Roanoke City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.5°F ✓ Warmer | 47.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.7°F ✓ Warmer | 88.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.0" ✓ Drier | 42.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 14.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 153,708 ✓ Larger | 99,213 |
| Median Age | 29.7 | 38.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 46.3% | 52.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 29.2% ✓ More | 22.2% |
| Over 65 | 7.5% | 17.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Killeen's cost of living index is 91.8 vs Roanoke's 90.9 (US average = 100).
Roanoke is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Roanoke leads 12 of 23 categories. Killeen wins 11 and Roanoke wins 12. 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 Roanoke or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($175,400 vs $162,000 median home), income ($57,086 vs $51,523), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Killeen, TX and Roanoke, VA are about 1,100 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.