Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Abilene, TX
VS
Edinburg, TX
🏆 Edinburg leads 14 of 23 categories
Abilene
Texas
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.8
Median Household Income
$59,254 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High
Population
126,356 ✓ Larger
Edinburg
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,139
Violent Crime Index
71 ✓ Safer
Population
100,964
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Abilene, TX
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.4 pts lower (2.8%)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Households earn $5,115 more per year on average
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.8)
Cons
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Edinburg
Edinburg, TX
Pros
36% less violent crime than Abilene
Rent averages $140/mo less ($920 vs $1,060)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.6)
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 59°F
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Abilene
Cons
Higher unemployment (7.2% vs 2.8%)
Median income trails Abilene by $5,115/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Abilene
Median Income
$5,115
$59,254 vs $54,139/yr
Abilene
Unemployment
4.4 pp lower
2.8% vs 7.2% unemployment
Edinburg
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 85.6 vs 89.8 (100 = US avg)
Edinburg
Violent Crime
36% lower
269.6 vs 424.5 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Abilene, TX | Edinburg, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.8 | 85.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $161,800 | $159,600 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,060 | $920 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,254 ✓ Higher | $54,139 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.8% ✓ Lower | 7.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 15.2 min ✓ Shorter | 19.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.1% | 9.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 101⚠ High | 76 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High | 71 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 | 84 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B- (95) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 | 14.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.4% | 28.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% ✓ Higher | 79.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ABILENE ISD | EDINBURG CISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.8°F | 70.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 96.4°F | 96.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.4" ✓ Drier | 26.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.7" | 0.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,356 ✓ Larger | 100,964 |
| Median Age | 32.2 ✓ Older | 29.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.0% ✓ Higher | 53.6% |
| Under 18 | 23.1% | 27.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.5% ✓ More | 9.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Abilene's cost of living index is 89.8 vs Edinburg's 85.6 (US average = 100).
Edinburg is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Edinburg leads 14 of 23 categories. Abilene wins 9 and Edinburg wins 14. 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 Edinburg or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($161,800 vs $159,600 median home), income ($59,254 vs $54,139), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Abilene, TX and Edinburg, TX are about 434 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.