Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Abilene, TX
VS
Birmingham, AL
🏆 Abilene leads 14 of 23 categories
Abilene
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,254 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
126,356
Birmingham
Alabama
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.6
Median Household Income
$42,464
Violent Crime Index
328⚠ High
Population
200,431 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Abilene, TX
Pros
66% less violent crime than Birmingham
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.7 pts lower (2.8%)
Households earn $16,790 more per year on average
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.8)
Smaller class sizes — 14.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Birmingham, AL
Pros
Homes cost $39k less ($123,000 vs $161,800)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.6)
More college-educated — 29.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 91°F vs 96°F
Cons
Median income trails Abilene by $16,790/yr
Violent crime (1246.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4031.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.5% vs 2.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Abilene
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 89.8 vs 92.6 (100 = US avg)
Abilene
Median Income
$16,790
$59,254 vs $42,464/yr
Abilene
Violent Crime
66% lower
424.5 vs 1246.6 per 100k
Abilene
Unemployment
4.7 pp lower
2.8% vs 7.5% unemployment
Abilene
Summer Heat
5.4°F warmer
July avg high 96.4°F vs 91.0°F
Birmingham
Median Home Value
$39k less
$123,000 vs $161,800
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Abilene, TX | Birmingham, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.8 ✓ Cheaper | 92.6 |
| Median Home Value | $161,800 | $123,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,060 | $995 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,254 ✓ Higher | $42,464 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.8% ✓ Lower | 7.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 15.2 min ✓ Shorter | 21.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.1% | 7.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 101⚠ High ✓ Safer | 274⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer | 328⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 ✓ Safer | 192⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) ✓ Better | C+ (89) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.4% | 29.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% | 88.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ABILENE ISD | Birmingham City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.8°F ✓ Warmer | 54.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.4°F ✓ Warmer | 91.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.4" ✓ Drier | 58.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.7" | 1.4" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,356 | 200,431 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.2 | 35.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.0% ✓ Higher | 45.9% |
| Under 18 | 23.1% ✓ More | 19.5% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 16.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Abilene's cost of living index is 89.8 vs Birmingham's 92.6 (US average = 100).
Abilene is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Abilene leads 14 of 23 categories. Abilene wins 14 and Birmingham 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 Birmingham or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($161,800 vs $123,000 median home), income ($59,254 vs $42,464), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Abilene, TX and Birmingham, AL are about 753 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.