Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Killeen, TX
VS
San Tan Valley, AZ
🏆 San Tan Valley leads 13 of 21 categories
Killeen
Texas
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,086
Violent Crime Index
139⚠ High
Population
153,708 ✓ Larger
San Tan Valley
Arizona
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.0
Median Household Income
$88,466 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
62 ✓ Safer
Population
101,207
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Killeen, TX
Pros
Homes cost $129k less ($175,400 vs $304,000)
Rent averages $645/mo less ($1,084 vs $1,729)
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
8% cheaper overall cost of living than San Tan Valley
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.8)
Cooler summers — July highs near 96°F vs 104°F
Cons
Median income trails San Tan Valley by $31,380/yr
Violent crime (527.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (10.9% vs 4.5%)
San Tan Valley, AZ
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 6.4 pts lower (4.5%)
Households earn $31,380 more per year on average
55% less violent crime than Killeen
Violent crime is well below the national average (235.7 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 60°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,729/mo
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Killeen
Longer commutes — 36.2 min average each way
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Killeen
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 91.8 vs 100.0 (100 = US avg)
Killeen
Median Home Value
$129k less
$175,400 vs $304,000
San Tan Valley
Median Income
$31,380
$88,466 vs $57,086/yr
San Tan Valley
Violent Crime
55% lower
235.7 vs 527.6 per 100k
San Tan Valley
Unemployment
6.4 pp lower
4.5% vs 10.9% unemployment
San Tan Valley
Summer Heat
8.5°F warmer
July avg high 104.2°F vs 95.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Killeen, TX | San Tan Valley, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.8 ✓ Cheaper | 100.0 |
| Median Home Value | $175,400 ✓ Lower | $304,000 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,084 ✓ Lower | $1,729⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,086 | $88,466 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.9%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.8 min ✓ Shorter | 36.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.1% | 13.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 110⚠ High | 56 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 139⚠ High | 62 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 66 | 46 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) | C+ (83) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.1% ✓ Higher | 22.0% |
| High School or Higher | 91.9% | 92.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | KILLEEN ISD | J O Combs Unified School District (4445) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.5°F | 65.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.7°F | 104.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.0" | 8.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 153,708 ✓ Larger | 101,207 |
| Median Age | 29.7 | 34.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 46.3% | 80.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 29.2% ✓ More | 28.3% |
| Over 65 | 7.5% | 11.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Killeen's cost of living index is 91.8 vs San Tan Valley's 100.0 (US average = 100).
Killeen is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, San Tan Valley leads 13 of 21 categories. Killeen wins 8 and San Tan Valley 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 Tan Valley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($175,400 vs $304,000 median home), income ($57,086 vs $88,466), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Killeen, TX and San Tan Valley, AZ are about 822 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.