Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Abilene, TX
VS
College Station, TX
🏆 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
Population
126,356 ✓ Larger
College Station
Texas
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.7
Median Household Income
$52,397
Violent Crime Index
45 ✓ Safer
Population
120,451
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Abilene, TX
Pros
Homes cost $144k less ($161,800 vs $305,800)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (2.8%)
Households earn $6,857 more per year on average
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.8)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
College Station, TX
Pros
60% less violent crime than Abilene
More college-educated — 58.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (170.5 vs 380/100k)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.7)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $305,800
Median income trails Abilene by $6,857/yr
Higher unemployment (4.7% vs 2.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Abilene
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 89.8 vs 90.7 (100 = US avg)
Abilene
Median Income
$6,857
$59,254 vs $52,397/yr
Abilene
Median Home Value
$144k less
$161,800 vs $305,800
Abilene
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
2.8% vs 4.7% unemployment
College Station
Violent Crime
60% lower
170.5 vs 424.5 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Abilene, TX | College Station, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.8 ✓ Cheaper | 90.7 |
| Median Home Value | $161,800 ✓ Lower | $305,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,060 ✓ Lower | $1,129 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,254 ✓ Higher | $52,397 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.8% ✓ Lower | 4.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 15.2 min ✓ Shorter | 16.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.1% | 11.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 101⚠ High | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High | 45 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 | 53 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | A (129) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.4% | 58.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% | 95.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ABILENE ISD | COLLEGE STATION ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.8°F | 61.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 96.4°F ✓ Warmer | 95.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.4" ✓ Drier | 46.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,356 ✓ Larger | 120,451 |
| Median Age | 32.2 ✓ Older | 22.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.0% ✓ Higher | 36.3% |
| Under 18 | 23.1% ✓ More | 16.5% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% ✓ More | 6.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Abilene's cost of living index is 89.8 vs College Station's 90.7 (US average = 100).
Abilene is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Abilene leads 14 of 23 categories. Abilene wins 14 and College Station 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 College Station or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($161,800 vs $305,800 median home), income ($59,254 vs $52,397), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Abilene, TX and College Station, TX are about 240 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.