Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Killeen, TX
VS
Santa Clara, CA
🏆 Santa Clara 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
Santa Clara
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$165,352 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
48 ✓ Safer
Population
128,058
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Killeen, TX
Pros
Homes cost $1265k less ($175,400 vs $1,440,200)
Rent averages $1757/mo less ($1,084 vs $2,841)
21% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Clara
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.8)
Smaller class sizes — 15.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Santa Clara by $108,266/yr
Violent crime (527.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (10.9% vs 4.2%)
Santa Clara, CA
Pros
Households earn $108,266 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 6.7 pts lower (4.2%)
66% less violent crime than Killeen
More college-educated — 64.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (182.0 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 96°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,440,200
Higher rents — median is $2,841/mo
Cost of living runs 21% higher than Killeen
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.9)
Key Differences at a Glance
Killeen
Cost of Living
21% cheaper
COL index 91.8 vs 112.9 (100 = US avg)
Killeen
Median Home Value
$1265k less
$175,400 vs $1,440,200
Killeen
Summer Heat
14.9°F warmer
July avg high 95.7°F vs 80.8°F
Santa Clara
Median Income
$108,266
$165,352 vs $57,086/yr
Santa Clara
Violent Crime
66% lower
182.0 vs 527.6 per 100k
Santa Clara
Unemployment
6.7 pp lower
4.2% vs 10.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Killeen, TX | Santa Clara, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.8 ✓ Cheaper | 112.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $175,400 ✓ Lower | $1,440,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,084 ✓ Lower | $2,841⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,086 | $165,352 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.9%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.8 min | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.1% | 21.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 110⚠ High | 76 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 139⚠ High | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 66 ✓ Safer | 119⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) | A- (110) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.1% | 64.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 91.9% | 94.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | KILLEEN ISD | Santa Clara Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.5°F | 59.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.7°F ✓ Warmer | 80.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.0" | 15.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 153,708 ✓ Larger | 128,058 |
| Median Age | 29.7 | 34.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 46.3% ✓ Higher | 41.9% |
| Under 18 | 29.2% ✓ More | 18.0% |
| Over 65 | 7.5% | 11.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Killeen's cost of living index is 91.8 vs Santa Clara's 112.9 (US average = 100).
Killeen is 21% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Santa Clara leads 13 of 22 categories. Killeen wins 9 and Santa Clara 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 Santa Clara or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($175,400 vs $1,440,200 median home), income ($57,086 vs $165,352), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Killeen, TX and Santa Clara, CA are about 1,446 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.