Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Abilene, TX
VS
Chandler, AZ
🏆 Chandler leads 16 of 23 categories
Abilene
Texas
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,254
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High
Population
126,356
Chandler
Arizona
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$99,374 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
35 ✓ Safer
Population
275,618 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Abilene, TX
Pros
Homes cost $262k less ($161,800 vs $423,900)
Rent averages $615/mo less ($1,060 vs $1,675)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (2.8%)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Chandler
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.8)
Cons
Median income trails Chandler by $40,120/yr
Chandler, AZ
Pros
Households earn $40,120 more per year on average
69% less violent crime than Abilene
Violent crime is well below the national average (133.4 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 46.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 59°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $423,900
Higher rents — median is $1,675/mo
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Abilene
Higher unemployment (3.8% vs 2.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Abilene
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 89.8 vs 101.4 (100 = US avg)
Abilene
Median Home Value
$262k less
$161,800 vs $423,900
Abilene
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
2.8% vs 3.8% unemployment
Chandler
Median Income
$40,120
$99,374 vs $59,254/yr
Chandler
Violent Crime
69% lower
133.4 vs 424.5 per 100k
Chandler
Summer Heat
9.5°F warmer
July avg high 105.9°F vs 96.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Abilene, TX | Chandler, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.8 ✓ Cheaper | 101.4⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $161,800 ✓ Lower | $423,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,060 ✓ Lower | $1,675⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,254 | $99,374 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.8% ✓ Lower | 3.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 15.2 min ✓ Shorter | 24.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.1% | 19.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 101⚠ High | 50 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High | 35 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 | 72 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B+ (109) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.4% | 46.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% | 94.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ABILENE ISD | Chandler Unified District #80 (4242) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.8°F | 70.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 96.4°F | 105.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.4" | 8.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,356 | 275,618 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.2 | 37.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.0% | 64.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.1% | 23.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.5% ✓ More | 12.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Abilene's cost of living index is 89.8 vs Chandler's 101.4 (US average = 100).
Abilene is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Chandler leads 16 of 23 categories. Abilene wins 7 and Chandler wins 16. 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 Chandler or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($161,800 vs $423,900 median home), income ($59,254 vs $99,374), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Abilene, TX and Chandler, AZ are about 705 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.