Killeen, TX Relocation Guide (2026)
Cost of living, housing, and income data for Killeen, sourced from the US Census Bureau.
Salary needed to live in Killeen →
Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022). Last updated July 2026.
Killeen counts roughly 153,708 residents, and the median household brings in $57,086 annually — -21% relative to the cities in our dataset, putting incomes here below the pack.
In Killeen, the median home is valued at $175,400 — below the median across the cities we track (-46%) — and typical rent runs $1,084 a month. Factor in mortgage rates and property taxes when sizing up whether buying pencils out.
At roughly 3.1 times median household income, home values in Killeen are on the affordable end compared to the cities we cover. Buyers may find a bit more room to negotiate in Killeen, where prices have dipped about 2.11% year over year. FEMA's National Risk Index puts Killeen at Relatively Moderate for overall natural-hazard risk — a relatively favorable factor for insurance costs.
Personal Affordability Check
Renting at $1,084/mo in Killeen would take 22.8% of your income.
$343/mo under the 30% guideline.
Buying the median home ($175,400) would take 19.7% of your income toward principal & interest.
$396/mo under the 28% guideline.
Cost of housing in Killeen
Median home value is $175,400 and median gross rent is $1,084/month. For buyers, monthly costs depend heavily on current mortgage rates — worth checking before you commit.
FHFA's county-level home price index for Bell fell 2.11% over the past year (as of 2025).
HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom unit in the surrounding county is $1,233/month.
Climate & home insurance
FEMA rates Killeen's overall natural-hazard risk as Relatively Moderate. Risk level is a major driver of home insurance premiums.
Safety
Killeen reported a violent crime rate of 497.6 per 100,000 residents in 2025, per FBI data.
Moving to Killeen
Planning a move to Killeen? Compare licensed movers and get quotes based on your origin and move date.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the cost of living in Killeen, TX?
- Cost of living in Killeen centers on housing: median home value runs $175,400, median rent runs $1,084/month, and the typical household earns $57,086 a year. Data via the US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022).
- How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Killeen?
- At Killeen's median rent of $1,084/month, the 30%-of-income guideline suggests an annual income around $43,360 to stay comfortably housed. See the full salary breakdown (renting and buying) for Killeen.
- Is it better to rent or buy in Killeen?
- Buying at Killeen's median home value of $175,400 takes about $40,131 a year in principal-and-interest income (20% down, 30-year fixed, current mortgage rates), compared with roughly $43,360 a year to comfortably rent at the median $1,084/month. Down payment and expected length of stay usually settle the question.
- Is Killeen safe?
- FBI data puts Killeen's violent crime rate at 497.6 per 100,000 residents for 2025 — a useful benchmark alongside other cities you're weighing.
See the full salary breakdown for Killeen →
Cities with a similar cost of living
Matched on median rent and household income within 15% of Killeen's.