Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Killeen, TX
VS
Thornton, CO
🏆 Killeen leads 12 of 23 categories
Killeen
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,086
Violent Crime Index
139⚠ High
Population
153,708 ✓ Larger
Thornton
Colorado
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$95,064 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
141,799
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Killeen, TX
Pros
Homes cost $270k less ($175,400 vs $445,200)
Rent averages $674/mo less ($1,084 vs $1,758)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Thornton
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.8)
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 48°F
Cons
Median income trails Thornton by $37,978/yr
Violent crime (527.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (10.9% vs 4.6%)
Thornton, CO
Pros
Households earn $37,978 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 6.3 pts lower (4.6%)
48% less violent crime than Killeen
More college-educated — 30.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $445,200
Higher rents — median is $1,758/mo
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Killeen
Property crime (2835.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Killeen
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 91.8 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Killeen
Median Home Value
$270k less
$175,400 vs $445,200
Killeen
Summer Heat
4.6°F warmer
July avg high 95.7°F vs 91.1°F
Thornton
Median Income
$37,978
$95,064 vs $57,086/yr
Thornton
Violent Crime
48% lower
273.6 vs 527.6 per 100k
Thornton
Unemployment
6.3 pp lower
4.6% vs 10.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Killeen, TX | Thornton, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.8 ✓ Cheaper | 105.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $175,400 ✓ Lower | $445,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,084 ✓ Lower | $1,758⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,086 | $95,064 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.9%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.8 min ✓ Shorter | 30.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.1% | 12.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 110⚠ High | 97 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 139⚠ High | 72 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 66 ✓ Safer | 135⚠ 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 | 17.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.1% | 30.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 91.9% ✓ Higher | 87.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | KILLEEN ISD | Adams 12 Five Star Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.5°F ✓ Warmer | 48.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.7°F ✓ Warmer | 91.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.0" | 16.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 44.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 153,708 ✓ Larger | 141,799 |
| Median Age | 29.7 | 33.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 46.3% | 72.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 29.2% ✓ More | 26.6% |
| Over 65 | 7.5% | 10.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Killeen's cost of living index is 91.8 vs Thornton's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Killeen is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Killeen leads 12 of 23 categories. Killeen wins 12 and Thornton wins 11. 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 Thornton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($175,400 vs $445,200 median home), income ($57,086 vs $95,064), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Killeen, TX and Thornton, CO are about 733 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.