Austin vs Killeen
Compare Austin, TX and Killeen, TX on cost, HUD rent, safety, climate, commute, schools, outdoor access, food, and source-labeled relocation data.
The verdict
Killeen is the cheaper metro on paper: ACS median rent runs $1,084/mo versus $1,529/mo in Austin — a gap of about $445/mo — and HUD 2-bedroom Fair Market Rents show $1,135/mo against $1,924/mo. Across the four public-data screens Austin comes out ahead (262 vs 232 summed points), though Killeen still wins specific categories below.
Their climates screen similarly — summer highs near 97°F and 95°F respectively. If lower housing cost leads your list, start with Killeen; if walkable daily life matters more, Austin screens stronger on the walkability proxy (8 vs 8). These are metro-level public-data screens — verify neighborhoods, school districts, commutes, and actual listings before deciding.
Category summary
Killeen leads 74 to 52 on the cost and climate screen.
Austin leads 81 to 74 on the work screen.
Austin leads 49 to 27 on the daily life screen.
Austin leads 80 to 57 on the community screen.
$85,000 in Austin is roughly $191,250 in Killeen using WhereToThrive's cost index and state-tax adjustment.
Category comparison
| Metric | Austin | Killeen | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACS median gross rent | $1,529/mo | $1,084/mo | Killeen |
| HUD 2BR FMR | $1,924/mo | $1,135/mo | Killeen |
| Median home value | $390,000 | $191,000 | Killeen |
| State income tax | None | None | Tie |
| Average commute | 29.7 min | 25.1 min | Killeen |
| Safety score | 74/100 | 44/100 | Austin |
| School score | 8/10 | 4/10 | Austin |
| Walkability estimate | 8/100 | 8/100 | Tie |
| Outdoor score | 6/10 | 6/10 | Tie |
| Restaurants per 100k | 192.3 | 153.5 | Austin |
| Mountain distance | 308 mi | 258 mi | Killeen |
| Coast distance | 126 mi | 179 mi | Austin |
What stands out
Austin stronger signals
- No state income tax
- Major airport access
- Strong food and nightlife amenities score
- Public park/protected-area signal within 0 miles
Austin tradeoffs
- Premium housing market
- Higher natural disaster risk
- Very hot summers
Killeen stronger signals
- No state income tax
- Public park/protected-area signal within 1 miles
- More affordable than many peer metros
- Shorter average commute
Killeen tradeoffs
- Higher natural disaster risk
- Lower safety score than stronger alternatives
- Very hot summers
Common questions
Is Austin cheaper than Killeen?
On public benchmarks Killeen is the cheaper metro: ACS median rent is $1,529/mo in Austin vs $1,084/mo in Killeen; HUD 2-bedroom Fair Market Rents are $1,924/mo vs $1,135/mo; state income tax is 0% vs 0%.
Is Austin or Killeen safer?
Austin screens safer at the metro level: safety scores are 74/100 for Austin and 44/100 for Killeen (FBI-reported metro rates; neighborhood variation is larger than metro averages).
Which is better for families, Austin or Killeen?
School screens show 8/10 for Austin vs 4/10 for Killeen, alongside the safety scores above. It is a metro-level screen; verify specific school districts before weighting it heavily.
How different is the climate between Austin and Killeen?
Austin: summer highs near 97°F, winter lows near 38°F, disaster-risk band 3/3. Killeen: 95°F / 37°F, disaster-risk band 3/3 (NOAA climate normals).
Keep researching
Score this comparison with your own constraints
Public comparison pages use equal-weighted signals. The questionnaire reweights cities around your housing budget, climate preferences, work needs, family needs, and daily-life priorities.
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