Killeen, TX

Census place 4839148 · pop 158,159

D−39/ 100
🫤 Rough
D−
in TX
📍 Texas ranks #38 of 50 states →
🏆 Rent$1,239/mo · top 14%
🚽 Obesity45.7% · bottom 3%
💡 Did you know?

The civilian gateway to Fort Cavazos (formerly Fort Hood), one of the largest U.S. military bases.

Source ↗
Taxes
1.52% property · US 0.99%8.20% sales · US 7.00%None income · US 4.63%

Sales & income are statewide.

The breakdown — worst first

Adult obesity45.7%3

U.S. median 36.5% · worse than most cities

45.7% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).

Poor mental health20.7%6

U.S. median 17.4% · worse than most cities

20.7% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).

Uninsured adults17.3%11

U.S. median 9.3% · worse than most cities

17.3% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.

Homeownership49.5%14

U.S. median 67.2% · worse than most cities

49.5% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.

Physical inactivity31.4%20

U.S. median 26.5% · worse than most cities

31.4% of adults · Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.

Poverty rate17.4%25

U.S. median 12.1% · worse than most cities

17.4% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.

Property-tax burden1.52%26

U.S. median 0.99% · worse than most cities

1.52% of home value paid in property tax · Median real-estate taxes paid as a share of home value.

Bachelor's degree or higher21.9%28

U.S. median 24.3% · worse than most cities

21.9% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.

Median household income$60,97730

U.S. median $67,857 · worse than most cities

$60,977 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.

Unemployment rateCounty-level4.1%32

U.S. median 3.6% · worse than most cities

4.1% unemployment · Share of the labor force out of work. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Unhealthy air daysCounty-level5 days36

U.S. median 1 days · worse than most cities

5 unhealthy-air days per year · Days per year with unhealthy air (AQI above 100). Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Air quality (AQI)County-level46 AQI36

U.S. median 42 AQI · worse than most cities

46 median AQI · Median air quality index — lower is cleaner air. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Adult smoking14.6%37

U.S. median 14.6% · worse than most cities

14.6% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.

Commute time25 min40

U.S. median 24 min · worse than most cities

25 min average one-way commute · Average one-way commute to work, in minutes.

Natural disaster riskCounty-level93/10040

U.S. median 77/100 · worse than most cities

93/100 FEMA risk (higher = riskier) · FEMA National Risk Index — wildfire, flood, earthquake, heat and more. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Broadband access91.3%47

U.S. median 90.0% · worse than most cities

91.3% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.

Income inequality0.4260

U.S. median 0.43 · better than most cities

Gini 0.42 (0 = equal, 1 = unequal) · Gini index of household income (0 = equal, 1 = unequal).

Housing cost$215,40067

U.S. median $214,900 · better than most cities

$215,400 median home value · Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.

Population growth (5yr)+8.6%77

U.S. median +2.4% · better than most cities

+8.6% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?

Rent$1,239/mo86

U.S. median $1,756/mo · better than most cities

$1,239/mo typical rent · Typical monthly rent (Zillow Observed Rent Index, all home types).

Not measured for Killeen: Crime, Property crime. Not every public source covers every city — EPA air monitors and Zillow rent only reach some places, and national crime data is still being added.

Frequently asked

Is Killeen, TX a good place to live?
By the numbers, Killeen scores 39/100 — a D− (Rough) on Shcity, which ranks U.S. cities on public data across 20 metrics like crime, cost, jobs and health. Its strongest area is rent and its weakest is adult obesity. Texas overall ranks #38 of 50 states. Whether it's "good" depends on what you value — re-weight the factors to score it your way.
Is Killeen, TX expensive to live in?
Killeen has a median home value of $215,400 and typical rent around $1,239/mo — more affordable than most U.S. cities.
What's the biggest downside of living in Killeen, TX?
Its weakest measured area is adult obesity (45.7%) — 3/100, worse than most U.S. cities.
What is Killeen, TX best at?
Its strongest measured area is rent ($1,239/mo) — 86/100, better than most U.S. cities. Fun fact: The civilian gateway to Fort Cavazos (formerly Fort Hood), one of the largest U.S. military bases.

Sources: U.S. Census (ACS), CDC PLACES, FBI Crime Data Explorer, BLS, EPA AirData, FEMA National Risk Index, and Zillow.