Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Abilene, TX
VS
Aurora, CO
🏆 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
Aurora
Colorado
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,685 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
249⚠ High
Population
387,349 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Abilene, TX
Pros
Homes cost $248k less ($161,800 vs $409,700)
Rent averages $591/mo less ($1,060 vs $1,651)
55% less violent crime than Aurora
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.7 pts lower (2.8%)
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Aurora
Cons
Median income trails Aurora by $19,431/yr
Aurora, CO
Pros
Households earn $19,431 more per year on average
More college-educated — 31.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 90°F vs 96°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $409,700
Higher rents — median is $1,651/mo
Violent crime (947.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Abilene
Key Differences at a Glance
Abilene
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 89.8 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Abilene
Violent Crime
55% lower
424.5 vs 947.8 per 100k
Abilene
Median Home Value
$248k less
$161,800 vs $409,700
Abilene
Unemployment
2.7 pp lower
2.8% vs 5.5% unemployment
Abilene
Summer Heat
6.0°F warmer
July avg high 96.4°F vs 90.4°F
Aurora
Median Income
$19,431
$78,685 vs $59,254/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Abilene, TX | Aurora, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.8 ✓ Cheaper | 105.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $161,800 ✓ Lower | $409,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,060 ✓ Lower | $1,651⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,254 | $78,685 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.8% ✓ Lower | 5.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 15.2 min ✓ Shorter | 29.4 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.1% | 13.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 101⚠ High ✓ Safer | 209⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer | 249⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 ✓ Safer | 148⚠ High |
| 🎓 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 | 16.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.4% | 31.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% ✓ Higher | 86.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ABILENE ISD | Aurora Joint District No. 28 of the counties of Adams and A |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.8°F ✓ Warmer | 47.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.4°F ✓ Warmer | 90.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.4" | 17.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.7" ✓ Less | 49.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,356 | 387,349 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.2 | 35.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.0% | 62.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.1% | 24.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.5% ✓ More | 11.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Abilene's cost of living index is 89.8 vs Aurora's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Abilene is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Abilene leads 14 of 23 categories. Abilene wins 14 and Aurora 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 Aurora or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($161,800 vs $409,700 median home), income ($59,254 vs $78,685), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Abilene, TX and Aurora, CO are about 573 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.