Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Abilene, TX
VS
Brandon, FL
🏆 Brandon leads 13 of 23 categories
Abilene
Texas
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,254
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High
Population
126,356 ✓ Larger
Brandon
Florida
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,156 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
35 ✓ Safer
Population
114,923
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Abilene, TX
Pros
Homes cost $105k less ($161,800 vs $266,400)
Rent averages $510/mo less ($1,060 vs $1,570)
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (2.8%)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Brandon
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.8)
Cons
Median income trails Brandon by $11,902/yr
Brandon, FL
Pros
69% less violent crime than Abilene
Violent crime is well below the national average (131.1 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $11,902 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 75°F vs 59°F
More college-educated — 34.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,570/mo
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Abilene
Higher unemployment (4.6% vs 2.8%)
Longer commutes — 28.0 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Abilene
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 89.8 vs 103.4 (100 = US avg)
Abilene
Median Home Value
$105k less
$161,800 vs $266,400
Abilene
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
2.8% vs 4.6% unemployment
Brandon
Median Income
$11,902
$71,156 vs $59,254/yr
Brandon
Violent Crime
69% lower
131.1 vs 424.5 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Abilene, TX | Brandon, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.8 ✓ Cheaper | 103.4⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $161,800 ✓ Lower | $266,400 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,060 ✓ Lower | $1,570⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,254 | $71,156 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.8% ✓ Lower | 4.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 15.2 min ✓ Shorter | 28.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.1% | 13.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 101⚠ High | 29 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High | 35 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 | 21 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B- (96) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.4% | 34.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% | 90.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ABILENE ISD | HILLSBOROUGH |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.8°F | 74.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 96.4°F ✓ Warmer | 93.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.4" ✓ Drier | 55.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,356 ✓ Larger | 114,923 |
| Median Age | 32.2 | 37.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.0% | 55.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.1% ✓ More | 19.9% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 14.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Abilene's cost of living index is 89.8 vs Brandon's 103.4 (US average = 100).
Abilene is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Brandon leads 13 of 23 categories. Abilene wins 10 and Brandon wins 13. 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 Brandon or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($161,800 vs $266,400 median home), income ($59,254 vs $71,156), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Abilene, TX and Brandon, FL are about 1,086 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.