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Living in
Harker Heights.
About
Life in Harker Heights
This is fundamentally a military community built around Fort Hood, which directly or indirectly supports much of the local economy—so job stability tends to be solid if you're connected to that sector, but the city's fortunes are tied to military spending and base decisions. The cost of living is moderate for the region: median home values hover around $288,000 and rent averages $1,146 monthly, making it more affordable than Austin but pricier than smaller surrounding areas. You'll find a genuine family demographic here—41.5% of households have kids under 18, and the median household income of $81,190 suggests working professionals and military families rather than a struggling area.
Harker Heights at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
33.0 yrs
Poverty Rate
10.2%
Foreign-Born
9.6%
Broadband Internet
93.5%
of households
Population Growth
+6.4%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics9.6% foreign-born, most often from Micronesia
Who lives in Harker Heights: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Harker Heights, the largest foreign-born group is from Micronesia (13.2%), and 9.7% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
29.6%
of residents
65 and Older
10.2%
of residents
Households with Kids
45.3%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
25.6%
of households
Married Couples
46.9%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.72
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 18% below TX average
Rent, home values, and income in Harker Heights
In Harker Heights, rent runs 18% below the TX average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
47.5%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
14.1%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
91.1
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$3,743
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
61.7%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
2001
median year built
Vacant Homes
5.3%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $295,571 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for TX
Unemployment in Harker Heights
Unemployment in Harker Heights is close to the TX average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Harker Heights Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute24.1 min avg
How Harker Heights residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Harker Heights, most residents drive alone to work (76%), and 74% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 10 mi
Killeen Regional Airport / Robert Gray Army Airfield (GRK)
Regional airport · few flights113k passengers boarded in 2025
- 61 mi
Austin Bergstrom International Airport (AUS)
Major hub10.7M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 63% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Harker Heights runs 63% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
120.2
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,249
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Harker Heights Police Department
Natural DisastersDrought most common — 22 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
91.1 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Bell County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Bell County, which includes Harker Heights, the most common type is drought, with 22 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 22 | Hail | $1.7M |
| 2024 | 37 | Heat | $6.7M |
| 2023 | 43 | Hail | $2.2M |
| 2022 | 25 | Drought | $2.0M |
| 2021 | 17 | Heat | $50.2M |
| 2020 | 18 | Drought | $70,500 |
| 2019 | 13 | Heat | $24,000 |
| 2018 | 12 | Drought | None reported |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
2 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Bell County, county-wide
Air Quality45 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Bell County, which includes Harker Heights, is typically good — 241 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
45
Good Days
241
per year
Moderate Days
120
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Bell County, county-wide
Climate95°F summers, 38°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Harker Heights has hot summers (avg high 95°F) and mild winters (avg low 38°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
77°/55°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
95°/72°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
80°/56°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
61°/38°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
37.4"
Annual Snowfall
0.0"
Hot Days/Year
105
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
31
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
75
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 60°F | 36°F | 2.45" |
| Feb | 63°F | 40°F | 2.16" |
| Mar | 70°F | 47°F | 3.27" |
| Apr | 77°F | 54°F | 2.15" |
| May | 84°F | 63°F | 4.70" |
| Jun | 92°F | 70°F | 3.21" |
| Jul | 96°F | 72°F | 2.74" |
| Aug | 97°F | 73°F | 1.64" |
| Sep | 90°F | 67°F | 3.89" |
| Oct | 80°F | 56°F | 3.42" |
| Nov | 69°F | 46°F | 2.72" |
| Dec | 60°F | 38°F | 2.40" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 4.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Harker Heights
Harker Heights has 1 hospital, averaging 4.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — above-average care.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
11.3%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
4.0 / 5
Seton Medical Center Harker Heights
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Adventhealth Central Texas
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 10 mi away · Killeen
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education16.5:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Harker Heights
Harker Heights's student/teacher ratio is 16.5:1, close to the national average of 16:1, and 30.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
7
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
30.2%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
16.5:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Harker Heights (within 15 miles)
Public · 2-year · 6,247 students · in-state tuition $3,750 · 17% graduate · median earnings $46,742 (10 yrs after entry)
University of Mary Hardin-Baylor
10.7 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 2,759 students · in-state tuition $33,140 · 52% graduate · median earnings $59,613 (10 yrs after entry)
Texas A&M University-Central Texas
7.7 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 1,750 students · in-state tuition $7,383 · 64% graduate · median earnings $55,645 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Waco Mammoth National Monument, 47 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Harker Heights
Harker Heights has 3 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Waco Mammoth National Monument (47 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Waco Mammoth National Monument
National Monument
47 mi awayEl Camino Real de los Tejas National Historic Trail
National Historic Trail
69 mi awayLyndon B Johnson National Historical Park
National Historical Park
80 mi awayPublic Libraries in Harker Heights
Stewart C Meyer Library
400 Indian Trl, Harker Heights
Cities Near Harker Heights
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Harker Heights?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Harker Heights FAQ
Is Harker Heights, Texas affordable?⌄
Harker Heights's median rent is $1,146/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $81,190/year. Median home value is $287,800.
Is Harker Heights, Texas safe?⌄
Harker Heights's violent crime rate was 120 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1249 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Harker Heights, Texas?⌄
Harker Heights has an unemployment rate of 4.5%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Harker Heights, Texas?⌄
The cost of living in Harker Heights is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,146/month and median household income is $81,190/year. The median home value is $287,800. About 48% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Harker Heights, Texas?⌄
The average commute in Harker Heights is 24 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from