Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Killeen, TX
VS
Salem, OR
🏆 Killeen leads 13 of 23 categories
Killeen
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,086
Violent Crime Index
139⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
153,708
Salem
Oregon
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$67,540 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
140⚠ High
Population
175,754 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Killeen, TX
Pros
Homes cost $174k less ($175,400 vs $349,500)
Rent averages $140/mo less ($1,084 vs $1,224)
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Salem
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.8)
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 48°F
Smaller class sizes — 15.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (527.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Salem by $10,454/yr
Higher unemployment (10.9% vs 6.1%)
Salem, OR
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.8 pts lower (6.1%)
Households earn $10,454 more per year on average
More college-educated — 31.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 96°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $349,500
Violent crime (532.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2803.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Killeen
Key Differences at a Glance
Killeen
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 91.8 vs 102.4 (100 = US avg)
Killeen
Median Home Value
$174k less
$175,400 vs $349,500
Killeen
Summer Heat
12.2°F warmer
July avg high 95.7°F vs 83.5°F
Salem
Median Income
$10,454
$67,540 vs $57,086/yr
Salem
Unemployment
4.8 pp lower
6.1% vs 10.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Killeen, TX | Salem, OR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.8 ✓ Cheaper | 102.4⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $175,400 ✓ Lower | $349,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,084 ✓ Lower | $1,224 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,086 | $67,540 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.9%⚠ High | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.8 min | 22.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.1% | 12.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 110⚠ High ✓ Safer | 137⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer | 140⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 66 ✓ Safer | 133⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) | C+ (89) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.1% | 31.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 91.9% ✓ Higher | 88.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | KILLEEN ISD | Salem-Keizer SD 24J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.5°F ✓ Warmer | 48.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.7°F ✓ Warmer | 83.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.0" ✓ Drier | 46.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 1.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 153,708 | 175,754 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 29.7 | 35.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 46.3% | 54.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 29.2% ✓ More | 23.2% |
| Over 65 | 7.5% | 15.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Killeen's cost of living index is 91.8 vs Salem's 102.4 (US average = 100).
Killeen is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Killeen leads 13 of 23 categories. Killeen wins 13 and Salem 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 Salem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($175,400 vs $349,500 median home), income ($57,086 vs $67,540), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Killeen, TX and Salem, OR are about 1,665 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.