Rents are 12% below what Killeen's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.
Rent by unit size
These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,259 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.
Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →
12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
January. Asking rents in Killeen usually run 0.5% below trend in January and 0.5% above it in August, about $13 a month apart at today's median. Based on 11 years of data.
Rent in Killeen is 0.9% below its high of $1,270 in May 2025, at $1,259 as of September 2026.
Rent in Killeen changed -0.6% over the year to September 2026. Across the 224 Texas cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +1.0%.
From 2019 to 2024, rent in Killeen rose 43.9% while median household income rose 22.9% ($49,630 to $60,977). Rent outpaced income.
Rent in Killeen is 40.7% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
Rent has risen 5 months in a row, and rose in 5 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($60,977) is $1,524 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,168); a 3-bedroom is $1,628.
The priciest of 4 ZIP codes in Killeen, 76542 ($1,443/mo), costs 1.6 times the cheapest, 76541 ($878/mo).
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Killeen. The seasonal pattern compares Zillow’s seasonally adjusted and unadjusted series. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.
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Who lives here
Killeen, TX is roughly split between renters and owners, has a large share of families with children, has a median income below the national average, 21.9% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Killeen, TX has changed in 5 years
Since 2021, the typical rent in Killeen, TX has climbed from $1,016 to $1,259, a 23.9% change over five years. On the earnings side, the typical household in Killeen, TX now reports about $60,977, up from $52,072 in 2021. That spread, with rent up faster than earnings, points to a tougher affordability environment than five years ago. The population has grown by 5.4% since 2021, moving from about 150,082 residents to roughly 158,159. Renters now make up 50.5% of households, compared with 55% five years ago. For context, the 2021 to 2026 window covers an unusually volatile run for US rents nationally, and Killeen, TX reflects that arc in its own way.
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Can you afford rent in Killeen on your salary?
At $1,259/mo, how Killeen rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Killeen rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Killeen. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Killeen
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Killeen is $1,259/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $920/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,168/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $928/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,628/mo.
At 25% of local median household income ($60,977/yr), Killeen ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have decreased 0.6% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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How does Killeen rent compare to other cities in Texas?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Killeen?
At $1,259/mo, rent takes ~25% of Killeen's median household income ($60,977/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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