Killeen, TX Homes For Rent

Homes for Rent in Killeen, TX: What You Need to Know

Killeen, located in central Texas, is home to Fort Hood, the biggest active-duty military base of the U.S. Armed Forces.

Job Opportunities

Fort Hood is Killeen’s largest employer. It’s the base for the 1st Cavalry Division and the 4th Infantry Division. It employs 4,929 officers, 45,414 active-duty personnel, and 8,909 civilian and other employees. Apart from the military, the Killeen-Temple-Fort Hood region also has robust aerospace and aviation, manufacturing, and financial services clusters. Major employers in the area include Blackhawk Management Corp., EG&G Technical Services (engineering and construction), Advanced Electrical Systems, Pactiv (food and beverage packaging), Pepsi Cola South, Raytheon, and Wilsonart (manufacturing).

Things to Do in Killeen

The Mayborn Science Theater is a state-of-the-art planetarium with a 30-meter domed screen, twice as large as traditional movie screens. The planetarium offers an immersive experience through films and laser shows on outer space, dinosaurs, and oceans. The theater is located on the campus of Central Texas College. Visitors and locals alike love the Belton Lake Outdoor Recreation Area (BLORA), a reservoir located on the Leon River. It has mountain biking trails, basketball and volleyball courts, and camping facilities. Sierra Beach is a great place for swimming. Other popular activities include fishing, kayaking, and horseback riding. 

How Big is Killeen?

Located in Bell County, Killeen is home to 151,666 people. As a military town, it boasts of a diverse population. The majority (56%) of city residents are renters. Killeen sits amid a scenic rolling landscape. The area has 20 parks and two lakes, which are a major draw for newcomers. There are 41 public schools in Killeen, serving 30,445 students.

Is Killeen an Expensive Place?

Killeen is a very reasonable place to live in. The city’s cost of living rate, food, and housing costs are 18.2%, 5.6%, and 43.7% lower than the national average respectively. The median gross rent is $923. Also, one of the best things about Texas is it has no income tax. The state levies 6.25% to 8.25% in sales tax.

What Kind of Weather Does Killeen Have?

Killeen is pretty dry, getting 33 inches of rain per year versus the U.S. average of 38 inches, and no snow at all. If you’re new to Texas, you should know that it’s the most tornado-prone state in the country. It experiences about 155 twisters annually. One of the worst tornadoes in the area happened on May 27, 1997. It affected Killeen, although not as bad as Jarrell, 34 miles away. The tornado killed 27 people and injured 12 others.