Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Killeen, TX
VS
Sacramento, CA
🏆 Killeen leads 12 of 22 categories
Killeen
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,086
Violent Crime Index
139⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
153,708
Sacramento
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,954 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
199⚠ High
Population
523,600 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Killeen, TX
Pros
Homes cost $275k less ($175,400 vs $450,500)
Rent averages $508/mo less ($1,084 vs $1,592)
30% less violent crime than Sacramento
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Sacramento
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.8)
Smaller class sizes — 15.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Sacramento by $21,868/yr
Violent crime (527.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (10.9% vs 6.3%)
Sacramento, CA
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.6 pts lower (6.3%)
Households earn $21,868 more per year on average
More college-educated — 35.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $450,500
Higher rents — median is $1,592/mo
Violent crime (754.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 17% higher than Killeen
Key Differences at a Glance
Killeen
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 91.8 vs 108.9 (100 = US avg)
Killeen
Violent Crime
30% lower
527.6 vs 754.9 per 100k
Killeen
Median Home Value
$275k less
$175,400 vs $450,500
Sacramento
Median Income
$21,868
$78,954 vs $57,086/yr
Sacramento
Unemployment
4.6 pp lower
6.3% vs 10.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Killeen, TX | Sacramento, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.8 ✓ Cheaper | 108.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $175,400 ✓ Lower | $450,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,084 ✓ Lower | $1,592⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,086 | $78,954 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.9%⚠ High | 6.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.8 min ✓ Shorter | 25.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.1% | 15.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 110⚠ High ✓ Safer | 168⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer | 199⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 66 ✓ Safer | 121⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) | B- (93) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.1% | 35.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 91.9% ✓ Higher | 86.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | KILLEEN ISD | Sacramento City Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.5°F ✓ Warmer | 56.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.7°F ✓ Warmer | 94.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.0" | 20.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 153,708 | 523,600 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 29.7 | 35.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 46.3% | 50.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 29.2% ✓ More | 22.0% |
| Over 65 | 7.5% | 13.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Killeen's cost of living index is 91.8 vs Sacramento's 108.9 (US average = 100).
Killeen is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Killeen leads 12 of 22 categories. Killeen wins 12 and Sacramento 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 Sacramento or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($175,400 vs $450,500 median home), income ($57,086 vs $78,954), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Killeen, TX and Sacramento, CA are about 1,437 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.