Texas Counties › Bell County
Retiring in Bell County, Texas
Major cities: Killeen, Temple, Belton · Population 375,000 · Data last verified 2026-06-10
How does Bell County compare for retirement? Below is every figure we track, drawn exclusively from public government sources. To see how Bell County ranks against all 30 major Texas counties for your priorities, run the free comparison.
Compare Bell County against 29 other counties →Taxes & Housing
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Average annual property tax | $3,276 |
| Effective property tax rate | 1.68% |
| State income tax | 0% (Texas has none) |
| Combined sales tax rate | 8.25% |
| Median home value | $195,000 |
Cost of Living
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost of living index (US avg = 100) | 91 |
| Housing cost index | 85 |
| Grocery cost index | 95 |
| Median household income | $60,000 |
Source: BEA RPP 2022 (Killeen-Temple MSA, FRED RPPALL28660)
Healthcare
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Hospitals in county | 5 |
| Average CMS hospital star rating | 4 / 5 |
| Physicians per 100,000 residents | 275 |
| Trauma center | Yes |
Top-rated hospitals: Baylor Scott & White Medical Center - Temple
Climate
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Average annual temperature | 68°F |
| Average humidity | 66% |
| Extreme heat days per year (95°F+) | 105 |
| Extreme weather days per year | 46 |
| Annual rainfall | 35″ |
Economy
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Unemployment rate | 3.6% |
| Average salary | $52,000 |
| Major industries | Military, Healthcare, Education, Manufacturing |