Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Abilene, TX
VS
Cape Coral, FL
🏆 Abilene leads 11 of 20 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
Cape Coral
Florida
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$72,474 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
198,912 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Abilene, TX
Pros
Homes cost $141k less ($161,800 vs $302,400)
Rent averages $570/mo less ($1,060 vs $1,630)
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (2.8%)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Cape Coral
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.8)
Cons
Median income trails Cape Coral by $13,220/yr
Cape Coral, FL
Pros
Households earn $13,220 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 75°F vs 59°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,630/mo
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Abilene
Higher unemployment (4.4% vs 2.8%)
Longer commutes — 28.6 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Abilene
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 89.8 vs 104.9 (100 = US avg)
Abilene
Median Home Value
$141k less
$161,800 vs $302,400
Abilene
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
2.8% vs 4.4% unemployment
Abilene
Summer Heat
4.8°F warmer
July avg high 96.4°F vs 91.6°F
Cape Coral
Median Income
$13,220
$72,474 vs $59,254/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Abilene, TX | Cape Coral, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.8 ✓ Cheaper | 104.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $161,800 ✓ Lower | $302,400 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,060 ✓ Lower | $1,630⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,254 | $72,474 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.8% ✓ Lower | 4.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 15.2 min ✓ Shorter | 28.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.1% | 11.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 101⚠ High | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High | — |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.4% ✓ Higher | 24.6% |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% | 92.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ABILENE ISD | LEE |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.8°F | 75.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 96.4°F ✓ Warmer | 91.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.4" ✓ Drier | 57.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,356 | 198,912 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.2 | 48.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.0% | 77.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.1% ✓ More | 17.5% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 24.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Abilene's cost of living index is 89.8 vs Cape Coral's 104.9 (US average = 100).
Abilene is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Abilene leads 11 of 20 categories. Abilene wins 11 and Cape Coral 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 Cape Coral or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($161,800 vs $302,400 median home), income ($59,254 vs $72,474), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Abilene, TX and Cape Coral, FL are about 1,138 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.