Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Killeen, TX
VS
Waterbury, CT
🏆 Killeen leads 14 of 22 categories
Killeen
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,086 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
139⚠ High
Population
153,708 ✓ Larger
Waterbury
Connecticut
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.1
Median Household Income
$51,451
Violent Crime Index
85 ✓ Safer
Population
114,480
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Killeen, TX
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 37°F
Households earn $5,635 more per year on average
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.8)
More college-educated — 22.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Waterbury
Cons
Violent crime (527.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (10.9% vs 9.8%)
Waterbury, CT
Pros
39% less violent crime than Killeen
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (9.8%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 96°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Property crime (2918.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Killeen by $5,635/yr
Snowy winters — about 47" of snow per year
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Killeen
Key Differences at a Glance
Killeen
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 91.8 vs 95.1 (100 = US avg)
Killeen
Median Income
$5,635
$57,086 vs $51,451/yr
Killeen
Summer Heat
11.7°F warmer
July avg high 95.7°F vs 84.0°F
Waterbury
Violent Crime
39% lower
322.5 vs 527.6 per 100k
Waterbury
Median Home Value
$13k less
$162,800 vs $175,400
Waterbury
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
9.8% vs 10.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Killeen, TX | Waterbury, CT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.8 ✓ Cheaper | 95.1 |
| Median Home Value | $175,400 | $162,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,084 ✓ Lower | $1,140 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,086 ✓ Higher | $51,451 |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.9%⚠ High | 9.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.8 min ✓ Shorter | 27.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.1% | 6.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 110⚠ High | 107⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 139⚠ High | 85 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 66 ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) | B- (91) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.8:1 | 12.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.1% ✓ Higher | 16.7% |
| High School or Higher | 91.9% ✓ Higher | 81.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | KILLEEN ISD | Waterbury School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.5°F ✓ Warmer | 37.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.7°F ✓ Warmer | 84.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.0" ✓ Drier | 52.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 46.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 153,708 ✓ Larger | 114,480 |
| Median Age | 29.7 | 36.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 46.3% ✓ Higher | 43.8% |
| Under 18 | 29.2% ✓ More | 22.7% |
| Over 65 | 7.5% | 13.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Killeen's cost of living index is 91.8 vs Waterbury's 95.1 (US average = 100).
Killeen is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Killeen leads 14 of 22 categories. Killeen wins 14 and Waterbury wins 8. 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 Waterbury or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($175,400 vs $162,800 median home), income ($57,086 vs $51,451), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Killeen, TX and Waterbury, CT are about 1,546 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.