Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Abilene, TX
VS
Anaheim, CA
🏆 Abilene leads 15 of 23 categories
Abilene
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,254
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
126,356
Anaheim
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$88,538 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
157⚠ High
Population
347,111 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Abilene, TX
Pros
Homes cost $552k less ($161,800 vs $713,600)
Rent averages $898/mo less ($1,060 vs $1,958)
29% less violent crime than Anaheim
26% cheaper overall cost of living than Anaheim
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.6 pts lower (2.8%)
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Anaheim by $29,284/yr
Anaheim, CA
Pros
Households earn $29,284 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 59°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 96°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $713,600
Higher rents — median is $1,958/mo
Cost of living runs 26% higher than Abilene
Violent crime (596.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Abilene
Cost of Living
26% cheaper
COL index 89.8 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Abilene
Violent Crime
29% lower
424.5 vs 596.2 per 100k
Abilene
Median Home Value
$552k less
$161,800 vs $713,600
Abilene
Unemployment
2.6 pp lower
2.8% vs 5.4% unemployment
Abilene
Summer Heat
9.6°F warmer
July avg high 96.4°F vs 86.8°F
Anaheim
Median Income
$29,284
$88,538 vs $59,254/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Abilene, TX | Anaheim, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.8 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $161,800 ✓ Lower | $713,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,060 ✓ Lower | $1,958⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,254 | $88,538 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.8% ✓ Lower | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 15.2 min ✓ Shorter | 28.4 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.1% | 7.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 101⚠ High ✓ Safer | 135⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer | 157⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 ✓ Safer | 102⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) ✓ Better | C- (74) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.4% | 28.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% ✓ Higher | 77.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ABILENE ISD | Anaheim Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.8°F | 71.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 96.4°F ✓ Warmer | 86.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.4" | 14.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,356 | 347,111 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.2 | 35.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.0% ✓ Higher | 46.6% |
| Under 18 | 23.1% ✓ More | 22.9% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% ✓ More | 12.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Abilene's cost of living index is 89.8 vs Anaheim's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Abilene is 26% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Abilene leads 15 of 23 categories. Abilene wins 15 and Anaheim wins 8. 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 Anaheim or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($161,800 vs $713,600 median home), income ($59,254 vs $88,538), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Abilene, TX and Anaheim, CA are about 1,046 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.