Harker Heights and Round Lake Beach receive effectively the same standardized Area Score. Which fits you better depends on which dimensions you weight — the differences below are where they actually diverge.
Signals
Harker Heights
Round Lake Beach
Opportunity
51 · Bottom 39%
vs47 · Bottom 31%
Growth
44 · Bottom 38%
vs41 · Bottom 33%
Climate
68 · Bottom 42%
vs60 · Bottom 15%
Physical resilience
80 · Top 25%
vs80 · Top 23%
Housing affordability
94 · Top 23%
vs92 · Top 27%
Access
68 · Bottom 10%
vs85 · Bottom 29%
Economic stability
67 · Top 36%
vs64 · Top 41%
Measured values
| Metric | Harker Heights | Round Lake Beach | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 34,128 | 27,079 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $81,190 | $86,059 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $38,042 | $33,191 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 2,184/sq mi | 5,366/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $287,800 | $199,200 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,146 | $1,543 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 61.7% | 79.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 5.3% | 4.5% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -1.1% | -0.8% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 30.2% | 16.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 10.2% | 14.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 44 | 3 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 1.3 | 0.1 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -62.1% | 50.0% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 96°F | 81°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 36°F | 16°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 34.8" | 35.3" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 52 mi | 29 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 26.1 min | 33.1 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 33.0 | 33.8 | 2024 ACS 5-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.
Round Lake Beach
No hazard reaches elevated exposure.
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
Round Lake Beach
67
Your Score
64
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Harker Heights, TX · Round Lake Beach, IL · How this is calculated: methodology