Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Killeen, TX
VS
Visalia, CA
🏆 Visalia leads 12 of 23 categories
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
Visalia
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$75,658 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
115⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
141,466
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Killeen, TX
Pros
Homes cost $141k less ($175,400 vs $316,600)
Rent averages $205/mo less ($1,084 vs $1,289)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Visalia
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.8)
Smaller class sizes — 15.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (527.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Visalia by $18,572/yr
Higher unemployment (10.9% vs 5.6%)
Visalia, CA
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.3 pts lower (5.6%)
Households earn $18,572 more per year on average
17% less violent crime than Killeen
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $316,600
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Killeen
Key Differences at a Glance
Killeen
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 91.8 vs 101.3 (100 = US avg)
Killeen
Median Home Value
$141k less
$175,400 vs $316,600
Visalia
Median Income
$18,572
$75,658 vs $57,086/yr
Visalia
Violent Crime
17% lower
435.3 vs 527.6 per 100k
Visalia
Unemployment
5.3 pp lower
5.6% vs 10.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Killeen, TX | Visalia, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.8 ✓ Cheaper | 101.3⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $175,400 ✓ Lower | $316,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,084 ✓ Lower | $1,289 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,086 | $75,658 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.9%⚠ High | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.8 min | 21.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.1% | 6.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 110⚠ High | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 139⚠ High | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 66 ✓ Safer | 101⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) | C+ (88) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.1% | 23.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 91.9% ✓ Higher | 86.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | KILLEEN ISD | Visalia Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.5°F ✓ Warmer | 55.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.7°F ✓ Warmer | 93.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.0" | 10.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 153,708 ✓ Larger | 141,466 |
| Median Age | 29.7 | 33.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 46.3% | 60.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 29.2% ✓ More | 28.2% |
| Over 65 | 7.5% | 13.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Killeen's cost of living index is 91.8 vs Visalia's 101.3 (US average = 100).
Killeen is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Visalia leads 12 of 23 categories. Killeen wins 11 and Visalia 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 Visalia or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($175,400 vs $316,600 median home), income ($57,086 vs $75,658), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Killeen, TX and Visalia, CA are about 1,290 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.