Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Killeen, TX
VS
Worcester, MA
🏆 Killeen leads 11 of 21 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
Worcester
Massachusetts
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$63,011 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
4 ✓ Safer
Population
204,191 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Killeen, TX
Pros
Homes cost $130k less ($175,400 vs $305,600)
Rent averages $228/mo less ($1,084 vs $1,312)
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 32°F
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Worcester
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 6.6%)
Median income trails Worcester by $5,925/yr
Worcester, MA
Pros
97% less violent crime than Killeen
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.3 pts lower (6.6%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (16.5 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 33.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $5,925 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 96°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $305,600
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Killeen
Snowy winters — about 73" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Killeen
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 91.8 vs 103.8 (100 = US avg)
Killeen
Median Home Value
$130k less
$175,400 vs $305,600
Killeen
Summer Heat
15.9°F warmer
July avg high 95.7°F vs 79.8°F
Worcester
Median Income
$5,925
$63,011 vs $57,086/yr
Worcester
Violent Crime
97% lower
16.5 vs 527.6 per 100k
Worcester
Unemployment
4.3 pp lower
6.6% vs 10.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Killeen, TX | Worcester, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.8 ✓ Cheaper | 103.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $175,400 ✓ Lower | $305,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,084 ✓ Lower | $1,312 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,086 | $63,011 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.9%⚠ High | 6.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.8 min ✓ Shorter | 24.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.1% | 9.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 110⚠ High | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 139⚠ High | 4 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 66 | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) | B+ (106) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.8:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.1% | 33.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 91.9% ✓ Higher | 85.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | KILLEEN ISD | Worcester |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.5°F ✓ Warmer | 32.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.7°F ✓ Warmer | 79.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.0" ✓ Drier | 48.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 72.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 153,708 | 204,191 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 29.7 | 34.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 46.3% ✓ Higher | 42.1% |
| Under 18 | 29.2% ✓ More | 19.5% |
| Over 65 | 7.5% | 13.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Killeen's cost of living index is 91.8 vs Worcester's 103.8 (US average = 100).
Killeen is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Killeen leads 11 of 21 categories. Killeen wins 11 and Worcester wins 10. 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 Worcester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($175,400 vs $305,600 median home), income ($57,086 vs $63,011), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Killeen, TX and Worcester, MA are about 1,622 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.