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
Harker Heights
Gatesville
Opportunity
51 · Bottom 39%
vs36 · Bottom 12%
Growth
44 · Bottom 38%
vs77 · Top 8%
Climate
68 · Bottom 42%
vs69 · Bottom 45%
Physical resilience
80 · Top 25%
vs69 · Top 38%
Housing affordability
94 · Top 23%
vs86 · Top 41%
Schools
55 · Top 45%
vs63 · Top 35%
Access
68 · Bottom 10%
vs74 · Bottom 16%
Economic stability
67 · Top 36%
vs40 · Bottom 18%
Measured values
| Metric | Harker Heights | Gatesville | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 34,128 | 16,228 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $81,190 | $57,217 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $38,042 | $17,236 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 2,184/sq mi | 1,523/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $287,800 | $207,300 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,146 | $1,007 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 61.7% | 63.9% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 5.3% | 5.5% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -1.1% | -0.6% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 30.2% | 8.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 10.2% | 9.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 44 | 89 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 1.3 | 5.5 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -62.1% | 493.3% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 96°F | 95°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 36°F | 36°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 34.8" | 37.0" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 52 mi | 42 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 26.1 min | 25.2 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 33.0 | 39.4 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 7 | 5 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 16.87 | 13.21 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 41.2% | 42.0% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 45.7% | 45.2% | 2019-20 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 50.6% | 48.4% | 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
Harker Heights
Elevated or high exposure: hail.
Gatesville
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.
Harker Heights
66
Your Score
65
Area Score
Gatesville
64
Your Score
63
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Harker Heights, TX · Gatesville, TX · How this is calculated: methodology