Harker Heights receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Gatesville
Harker Heights
Opportunity
36 · Bottom 12%
vs51 · Bottom 39%
Growth
77 · Top 8%
vs44 · Bottom 38%
Climate
69 · Bottom 45%
vs68 · Bottom 42%
Physical resilience
69 · Top 38%
vs80 · Top 25%
Housing affordability
86 · Top 41%
vs94 · Top 23%
Schools
63 · Top 35%
vs55 · Top 45%
Access
74 · Bottom 16%
vs68 · Bottom 10%
Economic stability
40 · Bottom 18%
vs67 · Top 36%
Measured values
| Metric | Gatesville | Harker Heights | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 16,228 | 34,128 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $57,217 | $81,190 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $17,236 | $38,042 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 1,523/sq mi | 2,184/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $207,300 | $287,800 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,007 | $1,146 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 63.9% | 61.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 5.5% | 5.3% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -0.6% | -1.1% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 8.6% | 30.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 9.1% | 10.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 89 | 44 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 5.5 | 1.3 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 493.3% | -62.1% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 95°F | 96°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 36°F | 36°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 37.0" | 34.8" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 42 mi | 52 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 25.2 min | 26.1 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 39.4 | 33.0 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 5 | 7 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 13.21 | 16.87 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 42.0% | 41.2% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 45.2% | 45.7% | 2019-20 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 48.4% | 50.6% | 2024-25 school year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Gatesville
Elevated or high exposure: hail.
Harker Heights
Elevated or high exposure: hail.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Gatesville
64
Your Score
63
Area Score
Harker Heights
66
Your Score
65
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Gatesville, TX · Harker Heights, TX · How this is calculated: methodology