What it's like to live in Harker Heights
Harker Heights is a small city in Texas with rent below the national average, home prices that remain within reach, crime rates well below the national average, and a growing population. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Harker Heights deals with air quality that falls short of national benchmarks, hot summers, fewer dining and entertainment options than a bigger city, and a car-dependent commute, with few people using transit.
The good
- Rent below the national average
- Affordable home prices
- Low crime rates
- Growing population
- Average class sizes
The not so good
- Air quality concerns
- Hot summers
- Smaller place — fewer dining and entertainment options
- Car-dependent — few commuters use transit
How Harker Heights compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Harker Heights
Based on Harker Heights's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,292
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $45,840 a year
- 48% of Harker Heights renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$57,560
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $28,780
- Homes cost 3.5× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▼ 19% below US
$1,146/mo median rent
Cost of living works in this city's favor. Median rent sits around $1,146 a month, nothing that raises eyebrows. Solid value overall. Home prices are reasonable, with a median around $287,800. Not a steal, but not intimidating either.
Median home value $287,800 · 48% of renters cost-burdened
Job marketNear US average
4.5% unemployment
Unemployment here is 4.5%, close to the national average of 4.3%.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▼ 63% below US
120 violent crimes per 100k
Pretty safe, all things considered. Violent crime sits below the national average, nothing alarming, just ordinary city-life awareness.
Property crime 1249/100k · Harker Heights Police Department · 2025 data
Getting aroundNear US average
24 min average commute
Commutes run about average, at 24.1 minutes. Fine day to day, but it adds up over a year, and where someone lives relative to where they work starts to matter. 9 in 10 workers drive to work; 8% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are hot and humid, with highs regularly hitting 95°F, and winters are chilly but manageable, with lows around 38°F.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
1 hospital
There's one Medicare-certified hospital inside city limits, rated 4.0 out of 5 by Medicare. Hospitals in neighboring towns aren't counted here.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforce▼ 16% below US
30% bachelor's degree or higher
Education levels run about average, with 30% college-educated. It's a mix of white-collar and blue-collar work, which can be an asset or a limitation depending on the field.
Schools
7 public schools inside the boundary
There are 7 public schools inside the boundary. The student-to-teacher ratio is 17:1, close to the national average of 16:1.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Waco Mammoth National Monument (47 miles away). There are 3 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Harker Heights's strongest points are rent below the national average and home prices that remain within reach; the main tradeoffs are air quality that falls short of national benchmarks and hot summers. A year of median rent ($1,146/mo) equals 17% of the median household income here, less than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit people watching their budget and anyone prioritizing low crime. It may be a harder fit for anyone who doesn't drive.
Other places near Harker Heights
All Texas guides →Moving to Killeen →
5 mi away · pop. 158,159
Rent $1,208/mo · Income $60,977
Compare with Harker Heights →Moving to Belton →
10 mi away · pop. 24,356
Rent $1,252/mo · Income $59,130
Compare with Harker Heights →Moving to Fort Hood →
14 mi away · pop. 26,814
Rent $1,406/mo · Income $62,835
Compare with Harker Heights →Moving to Temple →
16 mi away · pop. 89,602
Rent $1,231/mo · Income $68,204
Compare with Harker Heights →Not sure Harker Heights is the one?
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