Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Abilene, TX
VS
Concord, NC
🏆 Concord leads 12 of 23 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 ✓ Larger
Concord
North Carolina
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.0
Median Household Income
$83,480 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
42 ✓ Safer
Population
105,335
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Abilene, TX
Pros
Homes cost $126k less ($161,800 vs $288,100)
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (2.8%)
Rent averages $199/mo less ($1,060 vs $1,259)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.8)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Concord
Cons
Median income trails Concord by $24,226/yr
Concord, NC
Pros
63% less violent crime than Abilene
Households earn $24,226 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (159.0 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 40.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Higher unemployment (4.7% vs 2.8%)
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Abilene
Key Differences at a Glance
Abilene
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 89.8 vs 97.0 (100 = US avg)
Abilene
Median Home Value
$126k less
$161,800 vs $288,100
Abilene
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
2.8% vs 4.7% unemployment
Abilene
Summer Heat
4.6°F warmer
July avg high 96.4°F vs 91.8°F
Concord
Median Income
$24,226
$83,480 vs $59,254/yr
Concord
Violent Crime
63% lower
159.0 vs 424.5 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Abilene, TX | Concord, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.8 ✓ Cheaper | 97.0 |
| Median Home Value | $161,800 ✓ Lower | $288,100 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,060 ✓ Lower | $1,259 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,254 | $83,480 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.8% ✓ Lower | 4.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 15.2 min ✓ Shorter | 27.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.1% | 14.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 101⚠ High | 46 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High | 42 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 | 53 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B+ (106) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.4% | 40.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% | 91.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ABILENE ISD | Cabarrus County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.8°F ✓ Warmer | 52.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.4°F ✓ Warmer | 91.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.4" ✓ Drier | 47.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.7" | 3.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,356 ✓ Larger | 105,335 |
| Median Age | 32.2 | 37.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.0% | 69.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.1% | 25.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.5% ✓ More | 12.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Abilene's cost of living index is 89.8 vs Concord's 97.0 (US average = 100).
Abilene is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Concord leads 12 of 23 categories. Abilene wins 11 and Concord wins 12. 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 Concord or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($161,800 vs $288,100 median home), income ($59,254 vs $83,480), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Abilene, TX and Concord, NC are about 1,112 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.