Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Abilene, TX
VS
El Monte, CA
🏆 Abilene leads 16 of 23 categories
Abilene
Texas
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,254
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High
Population
126,356 ✓ Larger
El Monte
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$59,929 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
108,682
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Abilene, TX
Pros
Homes cost $435k less ($161,800 vs $597,200)
Rent averages $545/mo less ($1,060 vs $1,605)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.2 pts lower (2.8%)
26% cheaper overall cost of living than El Monte
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 26.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
El Monte, CA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 96°F
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 59°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $597,200
Higher rents — median is $1,605/mo
Cost of living runs 26% higher than Abilene
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Abilene
Cost of Living
26% cheaper
COL index 89.8 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Abilene
Median Home Value
$435k less
$161,800 vs $597,200
Abilene
Unemployment
4.2 pp lower
2.8% vs 7.0% unemployment
Abilene
Summer Heat
10.9°F warmer
July avg high 96.4°F vs 85.5°F
El Monte
Median Income
$675
$59,929 vs $59,254/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Abilene, TX | El Monte, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.8 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $161,800 ✓ Lower | $597,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,060 ✓ Lower | $1,605⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,254 | $59,929 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.8% ✓ Lower | 7.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 15.2 min ✓ Shorter | 29.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.1% ✓ Higher | 4.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 101⚠ High ✓ Safer | 106⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 ✓ Safer | 98 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) ✓ Better | C- (66) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.4% ✓ Higher | 13.7% |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% ✓ Higher | 63.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ABILENE ISD | Mountain View Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.8°F | 68.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 96.4°F ✓ Warmer | 85.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.4" | 15.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,356 ✓ Larger | 108,682 |
| Median Age | 32.2 | 37.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.0% ✓ Higher | 39.6% |
| Under 18 | 23.1% ✓ More | 22.4% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 14.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Abilene's cost of living index is 89.8 vs El Monte's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Abilene is 26% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Abilene leads 16 of 23 categories. Abilene wins 16 and El Monte wins 7. 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 El Monte or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($161,800 vs $597,200 median home), income ($59,254 vs $59,929), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Abilene, TX and El Monte, CA are about 1,061 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.