Neighborhood in Harker Heights, Bell County

Living in South Harker Heights, Harker Heights

B+

2nd of 5areas in Harker Heights
Overall score 79 of 100 vs Texas neighborhoods
Harker Heights overall: B-

South Harker Heights covers part of Harker Heights, TX, home to about 1,900 people. It gets a B+, in the top 28% of Texas neighborhoods, and ranks 2nd of 5 areas we score in Harker Heights. It does best on internet access and worst on getting around.

  • Affordable
  • Well connected
  • Errands and things to do scores low (18 of 100)
  • Getting around scores low (6 of 100)

Closest everyday places

Grocery store2.3 mi
Pharmacy3.4 mi
Park0.7 mi
Cafe2.2 mi
Restaurant1.8 mi
Gym1.7 mi
Hospital or urgent care2.3 mi
Childcare2.1 mi
Library2.3 mi

Straight-line distance from the middle of where people live. Overture Maps.

Population
1,880
Median rent
$1,560
Median home value
$176,000
Household income
$172,700
Average commute
34 min
Homes owned
82%
Loading map

What it's like to live in South Harker Heights

South Harker Heights is an area in Harker Heights with about 1,900 residents, homes built around 1986, mostly owner-occupied (82%) and 54% of households with children.

It grades B+ against every neighborhood in Texas and ranks 2nd of 5 areas in Harker Heights, which grades B- overall.

Pros of living in South Harker Heights

  • Higher incomes. The median household earns $172,700, 113% higher than the Harker Heights median.

Cons of living in South Harker Heights

  • Pricier rent than the city. Median rent is $1,560, 36% higher than the Harker Heights median.
  • Higher unemployment. 7.4% of the labor force is out of work, against 3.9% across Harker Heights.
  • Groceries are a drive. The nearest grocery store is about 2.3 miles from the middle of the neighborhood.
  • Longer commutes. The average commute is 34 minutes, against 24 for Harker Heights as a whole.

South Harker Heights report card

Each grade compares South Harker Heights with every neighborhood in Texas. Safety is not graded for single neighborhoods because police report crime for the whole city.

  • Cost of living: grade A

    Median rent $1,560, homes cost 1.0x income.

    89 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Jobs and income: grade B

    Median household income $172,700, 7.4% unemployed.

    72 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Schools: grade B-

    Nearby schools average 82 of 100 on the state rating.

    57 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Safety: no grade

    Citywide, 120 violent crimes per 100k, 1,249 property crimes per 100k.

    No score vs TX areas

  • Errands and things to do: grade D

    Few everyday stores and services within a mile of homes.

    18 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Getting around: grade F

    Average commute 34 min, 12% work from home.

    6 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Education levels: grade B+

    44% have a bachelor’s degree.

    77 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Health: grade C

    12% of adults uninsured.

    42 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Home ownership: grade A-

    82% of homes owner-occupied.

    84 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Internet access: grade A

    100% of homes have broadband.

    91 of 100 vs TX areas

South Harker Heights compared with Harker Heights

Better than Harker Heights

  • Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent: 0%49 points lower than Harker Heights (49%)
  • Median household income: $172,700113% higher than Harker Heights ($81,190)
  • Home value to income: 1.0x71% lower than Harker Heights (3.5x)

Worse than Harker Heights

  • Average commute: 34 min39% higher than Harker Heights (24 min)
  • Median rent: $1,56036% higher than Harker Heights ($1,146)
  • Unemployment rate: 7.4%4 points higher than Harker Heights (3.9%)

Closest public schools

Texas Education Agency 2025 ratings. Check the attendance zone for any address with the district.

  • BMaude Moore Wood ElementaryElementary, Killeen ISD2.3 mi
  • CNolan MiddleMiddle, Killeen ISD2.8 mi
  • BHarker Heights High SchoolHigh, Killeen ISD2.3 mi

Cost of living in South Harker Heights

Median rent in South Harker Heights is $1,560 a month, 36% higher than the Harker Heights median. A household would need about $62,000 a year to keep that rent at 30% of income.

The median home is worth $176,000, 39% lower than the Harker Heights median, which means a monthly payment of about $1,273 with property tax at today's mortgage rates.

MeasureHereHarker HeightsTexas
Median rent36% higher than Harker Heights$1,560$1,146$1,403
Median home value39% lower than Harker Heights$176,000$287,800$283,800
Home value to income71% lower than Harker Heights1.0x3.5x3.6x
Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent49 points lower than Harker Heights0%49%52%
Homes owned by the people living in them20 points higher than Harker Heights82%62%63%
Vacant homes5 points lower than Harker Heights0%5.3%9.4%
Median year homes were builtAbout the same as Harker Heights198620011992

Monthly cost to buy a median home

$1,273
Mortgage payment
$963
Property tax
$309
Median rent, for comparison
$1,560

Based on a $176,000 home in South Harker Heights, 20% down and a 30-year loan at 7.28% (Freddie Mac average, week of 2026-10-01). Property tax is the median for the surrounding Census tract, or the county where that is not published. Insurance and fees are not included.

Work, income and getting around

MeasureHereHarker HeightsTexas
Median household income113% higher than Harker Heights$172,700$81,190$78,476
Unemployment rate4 points higher than Harker Heights7.4%3.9%5.3%
People below the poverty line6 points lower than Harker Heights3.8%10%14%
Adults with a bachelor's degree or higher14 points higher than Harker Heights44%30%34%
Average commute39% higher than Harker Heights34 min24 min27 min
Workers who work from home4 points higher than Harker Heights12%8.1%14%
Workers who walk, bike or take transitAbout the same as Harker Heights0%0.8%2.6%
Homes with broadband internet6 points higher than Harker Heights100%94%91%

Natural hazard risk

FEMA National Risk Index for the Census tracts in this area.

  • River floodingLow
  • HurricanesModerate
  • TornadoesVery high
  • HailVery high
  • Heat wavesVery high
  • WildfiresVery high
  • Winter stormsVery high
  • Strong windModerate

Who lives in South Harker Heights

Under 1826%
18 to 3414%
35 to 6444%
65 and over16%
Race and ethnicity
White60%
Hispanic or Latino8.1%
Black13%
Asian1.0%
Other or more than one race17%

Shown for information only. It is never part of any grade.

Other neighborhoods in Harker Heights

  1. 1AWest Harker HeightsMedian rent $1,220
  2. 3C+Central Harker HeightsMedian rent $1,350
  3. 4CNorthwest Harker HeightsMedian rent $1,010
  4. 5FNorth Harker HeightsMedian rent $1,190

Similar neighborhoods in other cities

Areas elsewhere in Texas with the closest mix of grades.

  1. BSouthwest Red OakRed Oak
  2. A-Heritage Park WestKaty
  3. ABayou LakesDickinson

Questions about South Harker Heights

Is South Harker Heights a good place to live?

South Harker Heights covers part of Harker Heights, TX, home to about 1,900 people. It gets a B+, in the top 28% of Texas neighborhoods, and ranks 2nd of 5 areas we score in Harker Heights. It does best on internet access and worst on getting around.

How much does it cost to live in South Harker Heights?

Median rent in South Harker Heights is $1,560 a month, 36% higher than the Harker Heights median. The median home is worth $176,000, 39% lower than the Harker Heights median. A median home costs 1.0x the median household income, compared with 3.5x across Harker Heights.

What schools serve South Harker Heights?

The closest rated public schools are Maude Moore Wood Elementary (elementary, rated B), Nolan Middle (middle, rated C) and Harker Heights High School (high, rated B). School zones can differ from the closest school, so check with the district.

This area groups 1 Census block group in this part of Harker Heights that have no neighborhood name on the map. Sources: US Census Bureau 2020-2024 ACS 5-year, CDC PLACES 2025, Texas Education Agency, FEMA National Risk Index, Overture Maps. How we grade.