Cost of Living in Kilgore, Texas

Housing in Kilgore runs below the national average, with a range from historic homes near downtown to mid-century neighborhoods, newer subdivisions, and rural and lake-area property in the surrounding Gregg and Rusk county countryside. For buyers, the money goes considerably further than in a Texas metro, while still keeping the conveniences of metro life close by.

As part of the Longview metro and a steady oilfield-services and college town, Kilgore has a healthy housing and rental market with below-average rates. The trade-off for low home prices, as everywhere in Texas, is property taxes, which buyers should factor into their monthly housing budget.

Day-to-day expenses in Kilgore generally run at or below national averages. Groceries, gas, and routine services are affordable, and the city has the retail, dining, and services of a college town, plus famous local barbecue. Kilgore College adds cultural amenities — the oil museum, the Rangerettes, the Texas Shakespeare Festival — that punch well above the town's size.

The big bonus is the Longview metro. Longview, just ten miles north on US 259, offers major hospitals, big-box shopping, a regional airport, and a much larger job market — all an easy commute. That metro access, combined with Kilgore's lower costs, gives residents an appealing balance. Utilities are typical for the humid East Texas climate.

Texas has no state income tax, a meaningful advantage for working households. The state relies more on property and sales taxes, so Kilgore homeowners should plan for relatively high property taxes even with low home values.

The overall picture: Kilgore is an affordable place to live with metro-level access and surprising cultural amenities for its size. For people who want low housing costs, a steady energy-and-college-town economy, and Longview's conveniences about 15 minutes away, Kilgore offers a strong combination among East Texas cities.