Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Abilene, TX
VS
Bend, OR
🏆 Bend 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 ✓ Larger
Bend
Oregon
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$82,671 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
44 ✓ Safer
Population
99,442
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Abilene, TX
Pros
Homes cost $415k less ($161,800 vs $576,900)
Rent averages $589/mo less ($1,060 vs $1,649)
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Bend
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (2.8%)
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 43°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.8)
Cons
Median income trails Bend by $23,417/yr
Bend, OR
Pros
60% less violent crime than Abilene
Households earn $23,417 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (168.5 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 48.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 96°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $576,900
Higher rents — median is $1,649/mo
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Abilene
Higher unemployment (3.8% vs 2.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Abilene
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 89.8 vs 105.8 (100 = US avg)
Abilene
Median Home Value
$415k less
$161,800 vs $576,900
Abilene
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
2.8% vs 3.8% unemployment
Abilene
Summer Heat
12.6°F warmer
July avg high 96.4°F vs 83.8°F
Bend
Median Income
$23,417
$82,671 vs $59,254/yr
Bend
Violent Crime
60% lower
168.5 vs 424.5 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Abilene, TX | Bend, OR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.8 ✓ Cheaper | 105.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $161,800 ✓ Lower | $576,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,060 ✓ Lower | $1,649⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,254 | $82,671 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.8% ✓ Lower | 3.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 15.2 min ✓ Shorter | 17.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.1% | 19.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 101⚠ High | 53 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High | 44 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 | 65 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.4% | 48.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% | 95.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ABILENE ISD | Bend-LaPine Administrative SD 1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.8°F ✓ Warmer | 42.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.4°F ✓ Warmer | 83.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.4" | 10.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.7" ✓ Less | 21.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,356 ✓ Larger | 99,442 |
| Median Age | 32.2 | 39.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.0% | 61.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.1% ✓ More | 20.8% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 17.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Abilene's cost of living index is 89.8 vs Bend's 105.8 (US average = 100).
Abilene is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Bend leads 12 of 23 categories. Abilene wins 11 and Bend 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 Bend or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($161,800 vs $576,900 median home), income ($59,254 vs $82,671), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Abilene, TX and Bend, OR are about 1,412 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.