Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Killeen, TX
VS
Rockford, IL
🏆 Killeen leads 13 of 23 categories
Killeen
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.8
Median Household Income
$57,086 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
139⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
153,708 ✓ Larger
Rockford
Illinois
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$50,744
Violent Crime Index
284⚠ High
Population
148,173
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Killeen, TX
Pros
51% less violent crime than Rockford
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 29°F
Households earn $6,342 more per year on average
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.8)
Smaller class sizes — 15.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (527.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (10.9% vs 9.0%)
Rockford, IL
Pros
Homes cost $61k less ($114,100 vs $175,400)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (9.0%)
Rent averages $178/mo less ($906 vs $1,084)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.1)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 96°F
Cons
Violent crime (1080.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2517.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Killeen by $6,342/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Killeen
Median Income
$6,342
$57,086 vs $50,744/yr
Killeen
Violent Crime
51% lower
527.6 vs 1080.0 per 100k
Killeen
Summer Heat
11.8°F warmer
July avg high 95.7°F vs 83.9°F
Rockford
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 90.1 vs 91.8 (100 = US avg)
Rockford
Median Home Value
$61k less
$114,100 vs $175,400
Rockford
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
9.0% vs 10.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Killeen, TX | Rockford, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.8 | 90.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $175,400 | $114,100 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,084 | $906 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,086 ✓ Higher | $50,744 |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.9%⚠ High | 9.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.8 min | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.1% | 7.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 110⚠ High ✓ Safer | 218⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer | 284⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 66 ✓ Safer | 120⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) ✓ Better | C (79) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.1% | 23.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 91.9% ✓ Higher | 85.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | KILLEEN ISD | Rockford SD 205 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.5°F ✓ Warmer | 29.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.7°F ✓ Warmer | 83.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.0" ✓ Drier | 38.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 37.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 153,708 ✓ Larger | 148,173 |
| Median Age | 29.7 | 37.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 46.3% | 54.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 29.2% ✓ More | 24.5% |
| Over 65 | 7.5% | 17.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Killeen's cost of living index is 91.8 vs Rockford's 90.1 (US average = 100).
Rockford is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Killeen leads 13 of 23 categories. Killeen wins 13 and Rockford 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 Rockford or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($175,400 vs $114,100 median home), income ($57,086 vs $50,744), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Killeen, TX and Rockford, IL are about 909 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.