Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Abilene, TX
VS
Arden-Arcade, CA
🏆 Abilene leads 14 of 23 categories
Abilene
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,254
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
126,356 ✓ Larger
Arden-Arcade
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,479 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
136⚠ High
Population
96,076
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Abilene, TX
Pros
Homes cost $305k less ($161,800 vs $466,300)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.3 pts lower (2.8%)
18% less violent crime than Arden-Arcade
Rent averages $325/mo less ($1,060 vs $1,385)
19% cheaper overall cost of living than Arden-Arcade
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Arden-Arcade by $5,225/yr
Arden-Arcade, CA
Pros
More college-educated — 36.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $5,225 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $466,300
Violent crime (518.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,385/mo
Cost of living runs 19% higher than Abilene
Key Differences at a Glance
Abilene
Cost of Living
19% cheaper
COL index 89.8 vs 108.9 (100 = US avg)
Abilene
Violent Crime
18% lower
424.5 vs 518.1 per 100k
Abilene
Median Home Value
$305k less
$161,800 vs $466,300
Abilene
Unemployment
5.3 pp lower
2.8% vs 8.1% unemployment
Arden-Arcade
Median Income
$5,225
$64,479 vs $59,254/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Abilene, TX | Arden-Arcade, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.8 ✓ Cheaper | 108.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $161,800 ✓ Lower | $466,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,060 ✓ Lower | $1,385⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,254 | $64,479 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.8% ✓ Lower | 8.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 15.2 min ✓ Shorter | 25.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.1% | 13.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 101⚠ High ✓ Safer | 119⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer | 136⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 ✓ Safer | 92 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B- (93) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.4% | 36.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% | 88.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ABILENE ISD | San Juan Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.8°F ✓ Warmer | 56.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.4°F ✓ Warmer | 94.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.4" | 21.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,356 ✓ Larger | 96,076 |
| Median Age | 32.2 | 37.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.0% ✓ Higher | 44.9% |
| Under 18 | 23.1% ✓ More | 22.8% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 16.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Abilene's cost of living index is 89.8 vs Arden-Arcade's 108.9 (US average = 100).
Abilene is 19% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Abilene leads 14 of 23 categories. Abilene wins 14 and Arden-Arcade wins 9. 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 Arden-Arcade or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($161,800 vs $466,300 median home), income ($59,254 vs $64,479), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Abilene, TX and Arden-Arcade, CA are about 1,285 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.