Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Killeen, TX
VS
San Marcos, CA
🏆 San Marcos leads 13 of 22 categories
Killeen
Texas
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,086
Violent Crime Index
139⚠ High
Population
153,708 ✓ Larger
San Marcos
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$99,413 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
59 ✓ Safer
Population
94,360
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Killeen, TX
Pros
Homes cost $553k less ($175,400 vs $728,800)
Rent averages $980/mo less ($1,084 vs $2,064)
20% cheaper overall cost of living than San Marcos
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.8)
Smaller class sizes — 15.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails San Marcos by $42,327/yr
Violent crime (527.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (10.9% vs 4.2%)
San Marcos, CA
Pros
Households earn $42,327 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 6.7 pts lower (4.2%)
58% less violent crime than Killeen
Violent crime is well below the national average (222.4 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 41.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 60°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $728,800
Higher rents — median is $2,064/mo
Cost of living runs 20% higher than Killeen
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Killeen
Cost of Living
20% cheaper
COL index 91.8 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
Killeen
Median Home Value
$553k less
$175,400 vs $728,800
Killeen
Summer Heat
8.5°F warmer
July avg high 95.7°F vs 87.2°F
San Marcos
Median Income
$42,327
$99,413 vs $57,086/yr
San Marcos
Violent Crime
58% lower
222.4 vs 527.6 per 100k
San Marcos
Unemployment
6.7 pp lower
4.2% vs 10.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Killeen, TX | San Marcos, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.8 ✓ Cheaper | 111.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $175,400 ✓ Lower | $728,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,084 ✓ Lower | $2,064⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,086 | $99,413 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.9%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.8 min ✓ Shorter | 26.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.1% | 16.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 110⚠ High | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 139⚠ High | 59 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 66 | 31 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) | B (100) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.1% | 41.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 91.9% ✓ Higher | 87.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | KILLEEN ISD | San Marcos Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.5°F | 68.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.7°F ✓ Warmer | 87.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.0" | 13.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 153,708 ✓ Larger | 94,360 |
| Median Age | 29.7 | 35.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 46.3% | 61.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 29.2% ✓ More | 25.8% |
| Over 65 | 7.5% | 13.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Killeen's cost of living index is 91.8 vs San Marcos's 111.5 (US average = 100).
Killeen is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, San Marcos leads 13 of 22 categories. Killeen wins 9 and San Marcos 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 San Marcos or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($175,400 vs $728,800 median home), income ($57,086 vs $99,413), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Killeen, TX and San Marcos, CA are about 1,145 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.