Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Abilene, TX
VS
Albany, NY
🏆 Abilene leads 17 of 23 categories
Abilene
Texas
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,254 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
126,356 ✓ Larger
Albany
New York
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6
Median Household Income
$54,736
Violent Crime Index
215⚠ High
Population
99,692
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Abilene, TX
Pros
48% less violent crime than Albany
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.2 pts lower (2.8%)
Homes cost $52k less ($161,800 vs $213,400)
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 33°F
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.8)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Albany, NY
Pros
More college-educated — 43.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 96°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (816.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2848.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.0% vs 2.8%)
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Abilene
Key Differences at a Glance
Abilene
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 89.8 vs 97.6 (100 = US avg)
Abilene
Median Income
$4,518
$59,254 vs $54,736/yr
Abilene
Violent Crime
48% lower
424.5 vs 816.9 per 100k
Abilene
Median Home Value
$52k less
$161,800 vs $213,400
Abilene
Unemployment
5.2 pp lower
2.8% vs 8.0% unemployment
Abilene
Summer Heat
12.5°F warmer
July avg high 96.4°F vs 83.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Abilene, TX | Albany, NY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.8 ✓ Cheaper | 97.6 |
| Median Home Value | $161,800 ✓ Lower | $213,400 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,060 ✓ Lower | $1,130 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,254 ✓ Higher | $54,736 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.8% ✓ Lower | 8.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 15.2 min ✓ Shorter | 19.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.1% | 11.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 101⚠ High ✓ Safer | 183⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer | 215⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 ✓ Safer | 136⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.4% | 43.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% | 88.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ABILENE ISD | ALBANY CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.8°F ✓ Warmer | 32.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.4°F ✓ Warmer | 83.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.4" ✓ Drier | 43.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.7" ✓ Less | 56.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,356 ✓ Larger | 99,692 |
| Median Age | 32.2 ✓ Older | 32.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.0% ✓ Higher | 36.7% |
| Under 18 | 23.1% ✓ More | 15.1% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 13.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Abilene's cost of living index is 89.8 vs Albany's 97.6 (US average = 100).
Abilene is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Abilene leads 17 of 23 categories. Abilene wins 17 and Albany wins 6. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Abilene to Albany or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($161,800 vs $213,400 median home), income ($59,254 vs $54,736), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Abilene, TX and Albany, NY are about 1,578 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.