Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Abilene, TX
VS
Chattanooga, TN
🏆 Abilene leads 14 of 22 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
Chattanooga
Tennessee
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8
Median Household Income
$57,703
Violent Crime Index
217⚠ High
Population
181,288 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Abilene, TX
Pros
48% less violent crime than Chattanooga
Homes cost $69k less ($161,800 vs $230,500)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (2.8%)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.8)
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 51°F
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Chattanooga, TN
Pros
More college-educated — 34.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.8)
Cooler summers — July highs near 91°F vs 96°F
Cons
Violent crime (823.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3942.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.1% vs 2.8%)
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Abilene
Key Differences at a Glance
Abilene
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 89.8 vs 92.8 (100 = US avg)
Abilene
Median Income
$1,551
$59,254 vs $57,703/yr
Abilene
Violent Crime
48% lower
424.5 vs 823.7 per 100k
Abilene
Median Home Value
$69k less
$161,800 vs $230,500
Abilene
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
2.8% vs 5.1% unemployment
Abilene
Summer Heat
5.9°F warmer
July avg high 96.4°F vs 90.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Abilene, TX | Chattanooga, TN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.8 ✓ Cheaper | 92.8 |
| Median Home Value | $161,800 ✓ Lower | $230,500 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,060 ✓ Lower | $1,066 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,254 ✓ Higher | $57,703 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.8% ✓ Lower | 5.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 15.2 min ✓ Shorter | 19.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.1% | 10.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 101⚠ High ✓ Safer | 205⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer | 217⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 ✓ Safer | 188⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B (101) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.4% | 34.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% | 89.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ABILENE ISD | Hamilton County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.8°F ✓ Warmer | 51.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.4°F ✓ Warmer | 90.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.4" ✓ Drier | 55.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.7" | 3.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,356 | 181,288 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.2 | 37.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.0% ✓ Higher | 53.4% |
| Under 18 | 23.1% ✓ More | 20.0% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 17.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Abilene's cost of living index is 89.8 vs Chattanooga's 92.8 (US average = 100).
Abilene is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Abilene leads 14 of 22 categories. Abilene wins 14 and Chattanooga wins 8. 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 Chattanooga or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($161,800 vs $230,500 median home), income ($59,254 vs $57,703), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Abilene, TX and Chattanooga, TN are about 851 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.