Killeen vs San Antonio
Compare Killeen, TX and San Antonio, TX on cost, HUD rent, safety, climate, commute, schools, outdoor access, food, and source-labeled relocation data.
The verdict
Housing costs are close: ACS median rent is $1,084/mo in Killeen and $1,219/mo in San Antonio, with HUD 2-bedroom benchmarks of $1,135/mo and $1,458/mo. Across the four public-data screens San Antonio comes out ahead (250 vs 232 summed points), though Killeen still wins specific categories below.
Their climates screen similarly — summer highs near 95°F and 97°F respectively. If lower housing cost leads your list, start with Killeen; if walkable daily life matters more, San Antonio screens stronger on the walkability proxy (16 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 65 on the cost and climate screen.
San Antonio leads 81 to 74 on the work screen.
San Antonio leads 43 to 27 on the daily life screen.
San Antonio leads 61 to 57 on the community screen.
$85,000 in Killeen is roughly $68,000 in San Antonio using WhereToThrive's cost index and state-tax adjustment.
Category comparison
| Metric | Killeen | San Antonio | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACS median gross rent | $1,084/mo | $1,219/mo | Killeen |
| HUD 2BR FMR | $1,135/mo | $1,458/mo | Killeen |
| Median home value | $191,000 | $235,000 | Killeen |
| State income tax | None | None | Tie |
| Average commute | 25.1 min | 28.9 min | Killeen |
| Safety score | 44/100 | 56/100 | San Antonio |
| School score | 4/10 | 6/10 | San Antonio |
| Walkability estimate | 8/100 | 16/100 | San Antonio |
| Outdoor score | 6/10 | 6/10 | Tie |
| Restaurants per 100k | 153.5 | 175.2 | San Antonio |
| Mountain distance | 258 mi | 286 mi | Killeen |
| Coast distance | 179 mi | 119 mi | San Antonio |
What stands out
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
San Antonio stronger signals
- No state income tax
- Major airport access
- Public park/protected-area signal within 0 miles
- More affordable than many peer metros
San Antonio tradeoffs
- Higher natural disaster risk
- Very hot summers
Common questions
Is Killeen cheaper than San Antonio?
On public benchmarks Killeen is the cheaper metro: ACS median rent is $1,084/mo in Killeen vs $1,219/mo in San Antonio; HUD 2-bedroom Fair Market Rents are $1,135/mo vs $1,458/mo; state income tax is 0% vs 0%.
Is Killeen or San Antonio safer?
San Antonio screens safer at the metro level: safety scores are 44/100 for Killeen and 56/100 for San Antonio (FBI-reported metro rates; neighborhood variation is larger than metro averages).
Which is better for families, Killeen or San Antonio?
School screens show 4/10 for Killeen vs 6/10 for San Antonio, 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 Killeen and San Antonio?
Killeen: summer highs near 95°F, winter lows near 37°F, disaster-risk band 3/3. San Antonio: 97°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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