Killeen Ranked 4th Most Recession-Recovered Midsize City

To measure the progress of local economies since the financial crisis and how much work remains to be done in the name of recovery, WalletHub compared 505 U.S. cities of varying sizes across 18 key economic indicators. Their data set ranges from “inflow of college-educated workers” to “share of households receiving public assistance” to “homeownership rate.”

The cities sampled considers only the city proper in each case and excludes cities in the surrounding metro area. Each city was categorized based on the following population-size guidelines:

• Large City: More than 300,000 residents
• Midsize City: 125,000 to 300,000 residents
• Small City: Fewer than 125,000 residents

Killeen ranked 4th Most Recession-Recovered Midsize City and 20th overall. The metrics below analyzed the change between pre- and post-recession levels, and Killeen’s ranking varied for each:

• 18th–Home Price Appreciation
• 24th–Poverty Rate
• 106th–Ratio of Part-Time to Full-Time Jobs
• 105th–Unemployment Rate
• 18th– Labor-Force Participation Rate

This data shows that the Killeen economy remains strong and resilient. Killleen Economic Development Corporation President Charles Watts remarks, "With the sustainability of Fort Hood, the recession has had minor effects on the local economy. Over 30% of the soldiers exiting the military at Fort Hood remain in the local area. This is why the economy remains stable, and the rankings by Wallethub back that theory with quantifiable data. Furthermore, the Greater Fort Hood area remains the hub for dining and entertainment in the Central Texas region. Killeen is a great place to live, work and play."

For more information about the study methodology and results, click here.