Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Abilene, TX
VS
Aurora, IL
🏆 Aurora leads 12 of 23 categories
Abilene
Texas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,254
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High
Population
126,356
Aurora
Illinois
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$85,943 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
70 ✓ Safer
Population
181,405 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Abilene, TX
Pros
Homes cost $80k less ($161,800 vs $241,600)
Rent averages $402/mo less ($1,060 vs $1,462)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.8 pts lower (2.8%)
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 31°F
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Aurora
Cons
Median income trails Aurora by $26,689/yr
Aurora, IL
Pros
Households earn $26,689 more per year on average
37% less violent crime than Abilene
More college-educated — 35.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 96°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,462/mo
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Abilene
Higher unemployment (5.6% vs 2.8%)
Longer commutes — 28.6 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Abilene
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 89.8 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Abilene
Median Home Value
$80k less
$161,800 vs $241,600
Abilene
Unemployment
2.8 pp lower
2.8% vs 5.6% unemployment
Abilene
Summer Heat
12.4°F warmer
July avg high 96.4°F vs 84.0°F
Aurora
Median Income
$26,689
$85,943 vs $59,254/yr
Aurora
Violent Crime
37% lower
266.0 vs 424.5 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Abilene, TX | Aurora, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.8 ✓ Cheaper | 102.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $161,800 ✓ Lower | $241,600 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,060 ✓ Lower | $1,462⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,254 | $85,943 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.8% ✓ Lower | 5.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 15.2 min ✓ Shorter | 28.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.1% | 12.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 101⚠ High | 66 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High | 70 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 | 60 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B+ (105) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.4% | 35.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% ✓ Higher | 80.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ABILENE ISD | Indian Prairie CUSD 204 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.8°F ✓ Warmer | 30.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.4°F ✓ Warmer | 84.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.4" ✓ Drier | 39.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.7" ✓ Less | 27.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,356 | 181,405 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.2 | 35.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.0% | 66.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.1% | 26.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.5% ✓ More | 10.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Abilene's cost of living index is 89.8 vs Aurora's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Abilene is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Aurora leads 12 of 23 categories. Abilene wins 11 and Aurora wins 12. 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 $241,600 median home), income ($59,254 vs $85,943), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Abilene, TX and Aurora, IL are about 899 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.