Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Killeen, TX
VS
Tulsa, OK
🏆 Tulsa leads 12 of 23 categories
Killeen
Texas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.8
Median Household Income
$57,086 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
139⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
153,708
Tulsa
Oklahoma
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,648
Violent Crime Index
248⚠ High
Population
411,938 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Killeen, TX
Pros
44% less violent crime than Tulsa
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.8)
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 49°F
Smaller class sizes — 15.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (527.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (10.9% vs 5.8%)
Cost of living runs 2% higher than Tulsa
Tulsa, OK
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.1 pts lower (5.8%)
Rent averages $126/mo less ($958 vs $1,084)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 32.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.5)
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Killeen
Cons
Violent crime (941.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3627.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Killeen
Violent Crime
44% lower
527.6 vs 941.9 per 100k
Tulsa
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 89.5 vs 91.8 (100 = US avg)
Tulsa
Unemployment
5.1 pp lower
5.8% vs 10.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Killeen, TX | Tulsa, OK |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.8 | 89.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $175,400 | $174,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,084 | $958 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,086 ✓ Higher | $56,648 |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.9%⚠ High | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.8 min | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.1% | 8.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 110⚠ High ✓ Safer | 218⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer | 248⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 66 ✓ Safer | 173⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) | C+ (87) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.1% | 32.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 91.9% ✓ Higher | 88.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | KILLEEN ISD | TULSA |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.5°F ✓ Warmer | 48.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.7°F ✓ Warmer | 93.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.0" ✓ Drier | 44.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 8.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 153,708 | 411,938 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 29.7 | 35.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 46.3% | 52.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 29.2% ✓ More | 24.0% |
| Over 65 | 7.5% | 15.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Killeen's cost of living index is 91.8 vs Tulsa's 89.5 (US average = 100).
Tulsa is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Tulsa leads 12 of 23 categories. Killeen wins 11 and Tulsa wins 12. 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 Tulsa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($175,400 vs $174,200 median home), income ($57,086 vs $56,648), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Killeen, TX and Tulsa, OK are about 364 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.