The Town FilesKilleen, Texas
City in Bell County · population 153,095 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $215,400
- Household income
- $60,977
- Jan low / Jul high
- 36° / 96°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 18
- Median age
- 30.3
Killeen is a city of 153,095 people in Bell County, Texas. The median home is worth $215,400, above the typical Texas town ($184,100). It ranks more of a college town than 92% of Texas towns, more walkable than 91% of Texas towns, more vibrant than 89% of Texas towns.
How Killeen ranks
Percentile among Texas towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Texas towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Killeen is worth $215,400, above the typical Texas town ($184,100). Homes cost about 3.5 times the median household income of $60,977, which is more affordable than 29% of Texas towns. Median rent is $1,208 a month. 49.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Killeen | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $215,400 | $184,100 |
| Median rent | $1,208 | $1,086 |
| Median household income | $60,977 | $65,842 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.5× | 2.9× |
| Homeownership | 49.5% | 72.9% |
| Median year built | 1996 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.4% | — |
Who lives in Killeen
| People | Killeen | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 30.3 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 8.4% | 15.6% |
| Under 18 | 29.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21.9% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 17.4% | 13.1% |
| Veterans | 23.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 9.6% | — |
| Work from home | 7.8% | 7.8% |
| Average commute | 25.5 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.3% | 89.2% |
Weather in Killeen
July highs average 95.7°F and January lows 36.1°F. About 34.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical Texas town: 0.2 in). Expect about 105 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 31 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Killeen since 1950, compared with 21 for the typical Texas town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on April 12, 2022 about 7.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 12, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 95 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on March 10, 2000.
Severe weather in Bell County since 1996
Bell County has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, other.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| May 17, 2024 | Flood | DR-4781: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| February 19, 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | DR-4586: Severe Winter Storms |
| February 14, 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | EM-3554: Severe Winter Storm |
| March 25, 2020 | Biological | DR-4485: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3458: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Bell County
Bell County had 129,627 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $62,107 a year. Unemployment was 4.5% in 2023; in Killeen itself the ACS puts it at 9.7%.
Public schools in Killeen
42 public schools with 29,722 students, about 15.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| ROBERT M SHOEMAKER H S | 9-12 | 2,258 | 18.4 |
| KILLEEN H S | 9-12 | 2,166 | 17.5 |
| CHAPARRAL H S | 9-12 | 1,953 | 19.1 |
| C E ELLISON H S | 9-12 | 1,687 | 16.7 |
| ROY J SMITH MIDDLE | 6-8 | 1,280 | 17.5 |
| KILLEEN EL | PK-5 | 1,088 | 14.1 |
| CHARLES E PATTERSON MIDDLE | 6-8 | 1,022 | 17.6 |
| PERSHING PARK EL | PK-5 | 1,003 | 14.1 |
| CLIFTON PARK EL | PK-5 | 990 | 15.2 |
| SAEGERT EL | PK-5 | 982 | 16.1 |
| ALICE W DOUSE EL | PK-5 | 929 | 16.3 |
| REECES CREEK EL | PK-5 | 868 | 15.5 |
Towns near Killeen
- Harker Heights, TX5.4 mi · 33,097 people · home $287,800
- Nolanville, TX7.5 mi · 5,917 people · home $244,900
- Copperas Cove, TX11.2 mi · 36,670 people · home $180,500
- Belton, TX15.0 mi · 23,054 people · home $258,700
- Morgan's Point Resort, TX17.0 mi · 4,636 people · home $245,100
- Sonterra, TX20.3 mi · 7,679 people · home $273,600
- Temple, TX20.4 mi · 82,073 people · home $239,000
- Gatesville, TX25.0 mi · 16,135 people · home $207,300
Killeen questions
Is Killeen, Texas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Killeen scores better for retirees than 5% of Texas towns and quieter than 1%. 8.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 30.3).
How much does a house cost in Killeen?
The median owner-occupied home in Killeen is valued at $215,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $60,977, so homes cost about 3.5 times income. Median rent is $1,208 a month.
What is the weather like in Killeen?
July highs average 95.7°F and January lows 36.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 34.8 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Killeen get tornadoes?
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Killeen since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on April 12, 2022. The typical Texas town has had 21.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)