Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Killeen, TX
VS
Tyler, TX
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Killeen
Texas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,086
Violent Crime Index
139⚠ High
Population
153,708 ✓ Larger
Tyler
Texas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.4
Median Household Income
$63,056 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
103⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
106,440
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Killeen, TX
Pros
Homes cost $30k less ($175,400 vs $205,200)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.8)
Cons
Violent crime (527.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (10.9% vs 5.3%)
Median income trails Tyler by $5,970/yr
Tyler, TX
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.6 pts lower (5.3%)
26% less violent crime than Killeen
More college-educated — 31.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $5,970 more per year on average
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.4)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Killeen
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 91.8 vs 92.4 (100 = US avg)
Killeen
Median Home Value
$30k less
$175,400 vs $205,200
Tyler
Median Income
$5,970
$63,056 vs $57,086/yr
Tyler
Violent Crime
26% lower
391.2 vs 527.6 per 100k
Tyler
Unemployment
5.6 pp lower
5.3% vs 10.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Killeen, TX | Tyler, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.8 ✓ Cheaper | 92.4 |
| Median Home Value | $175,400 ✓ Lower | $205,200 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,084 ✓ Lower | $1,113 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,086 | $63,056 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.9%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.8 min | 20.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.1% | 6.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 110⚠ High | 98 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 139⚠ High | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 66 ✓ Safer | 91 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) | B (97) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.8:1 | 15.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.1% | 31.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 91.9% ✓ Higher | 87.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | KILLEEN ISD | TYLER ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.5°F ✓ Warmer | 57.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.7°F ✓ Warmer | 93.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.0" ✓ Drier | 47.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 153,708 ✓ Larger | 106,440 |
| Median Age | 29.7 | 34.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 46.3% | 54.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 29.2% ✓ More | 22.9% |
| Over 65 | 7.5% | 16.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Killeen's cost of living index is 91.8 vs Tyler's 92.4 (US average = 100).
Killeen is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Killeen wins 11 and Tyler 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 Tyler or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($175,400 vs $205,200 median home), income ($57,086 vs $63,056), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Killeen, TX and Tyler, TX are about 166 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.