Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Abilene, TX
VS
Bellevue, WA
🏆 Abilene leads 13 of 23 categories
Abilene
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,254
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High
Population
126,356
Bellevue
Washington
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$149,551 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
36 ✓ Safer
Population
150,606 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Abilene, TX
Pros
Homes cost $978k less ($161,800 vs $1,139,500)
Rent averages $1362/mo less ($1,060 vs $2,422)
23% cheaper overall cost of living than Bellevue
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (2.8%)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.8)
Cons
Median income trails Bellevue by $90,297/yr
Bellevue, WA
Pros
Households earn $90,297 more per year on average
67% less violent crime than Abilene
More college-educated — 70.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (138.6 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 96°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,139,500
Higher rents — median is $2,422/mo
Cost of living runs 23% higher than Abilene
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Key Differences at a Glance
Abilene
Cost of Living
23% cheaper
COL index 89.8 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Abilene
Median Home Value
$978k less
$161,800 vs $1,139,500
Abilene
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
2.8% vs 4.0% unemployment
Abilene
Summer Heat
19.9°F warmer
July avg high 96.4°F vs 76.5°F
Bellevue
Median Income
$90,297
$149,551 vs $59,254/yr
Bellevue
Violent Crime
67% lower
138.6 vs 424.5 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Abilene, TX | Bellevue, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.8 ✓ Cheaper | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $161,800 ✓ Lower | $1,139,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,060 ✓ Lower | $2,422⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,254 | $149,551 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.8% ✓ Lower | 4.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 15.2 min ✓ Shorter | 23.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.1% | 29.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 101⚠ High | 85 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High | 36 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 ✓ Safer | 159⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | A- (115) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.4% | 70.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% | 95.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ABILENE ISD | Bellevue School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.8°F ✓ Warmer | 47.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.4°F ✓ Warmer | 76.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.4" ✓ Drier | 43.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.7" ✓ Less | 3.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,356 | 150,606 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.2 | 38.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.0% ✓ Higher | 51.7% |
| Under 18 | 23.1% ✓ More | 20.0% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 14.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Abilene's cost of living index is 89.8 vs Bellevue's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Abilene is 23% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Abilene leads 13 of 23 categories. Abilene wins 13 and Bellevue wins 10. 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 Bellevue or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($161,800 vs $1,139,500 median home), income ($59,254 vs $149,551), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Abilene, TX and Bellevue, WA are about 1,571 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.