Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Abilene, TX
VS
Arlington, VA
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Abilene
Texas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,254
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High
Population
126,356
Arlington
Virginia
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$137,387 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
67 ✓ Safer
Population
235,845 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Abilene, TX
Pros
Homes cost $672k less ($161,800 vs $833,300)
Rent averages $1167/mo less ($1,060 vs $2,227)
19% cheaper overall cost of living than Arlington
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 45°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.8)
Cons
Median income trails Arlington by $78,133/yr
Arlington, VA
Pros
Households earn $78,133 more per year on average
More college-educated — 76.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
40% less violent crime than Abilene
Violent crime is well below the national average (254.4 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 90°F vs 96°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $833,300
Higher rents — median is $2,227/mo
Cost of living runs 19% higher than Abilene
Longer commutes — 27.7 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Abilene
Cost of Living
19% cheaper
COL index 89.8 vs 108.6 (100 = US avg)
Abilene
Median Home Value
$672k less
$161,800 vs $833,300
Abilene
Summer Heat
6.8°F warmer
July avg high 96.4°F vs 89.6°F
Arlington
Median Income
$78,133
$137,387 vs $59,254/yr
Arlington
Violent Crime
40% lower
254.4 vs 424.5 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Abilene, TX | Arlington, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.8 ✓ Cheaper | 108.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $161,800 ✓ Lower | $833,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,060 ✓ Lower | $2,227⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,254 | $137,387 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.8% | 2.8% |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 15.2 min ✓ Shorter | 27.7 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.1% | 27.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 101⚠ High | 73 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High | 67 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 | 83 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | A (121) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 | 12.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.4% | 76.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% | 95.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ABILENE ISD | Arlington County Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.8°F ✓ Warmer | 44.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.4°F ✓ Warmer | 89.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.4" ✓ Drier | 47.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.7" ✓ Less | 13.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,356 | 235,845 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.2 | 35.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.0% ✓ Higher | 42.2% |
| Under 18 | 23.1% ✓ More | 18.1% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Abilene's cost of living index is 89.8 vs Arlington's 108.6 (US average = 100).
Abilene is 19% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Abilene wins 11 and Arlington wins 11. 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 Arlington or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($161,800 vs $833,300 median home), income ($59,254 vs $137,387), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Abilene, TX and Arlington, VA are about 1,342 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.