Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Abilene, TX
VS
El Paso, TX
🏆 El Paso leads 14 of 22 categories
Abilene
Texas
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,254 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High
Population
126,356
El Paso
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.2
Median Household Income
$55,710
Violent Crime Index
73 ✓ Safer
Population
677,181 ✓ Larger
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 4.0 pts lower (2.8%)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.8)
Households earn $3,544 more per year on average
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
El Paso, TX
Pros
34% less violent crime than Abilene
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.2)
Rent averages $84/mo less ($976 vs $1,060)
Cons
Higher unemployment (6.8% vs 2.8%)
Median income trails Abilene by $3,544/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Abilene
Median Income
$3,544
$59,254 vs $55,710/yr
Abilene
Unemployment
4.0 pp lower
2.8% vs 6.8% unemployment
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 89.8 on the COL index
El Paso
Violent Crime
34% lower
278.4 vs 424.5 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Abilene, TX | El Paso, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.8 ✓ Cheaper | 90.2 |
| Median Home Value | $161,800 | $159,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,060 | $976 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,254 ✓ Higher | $55,710 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.8% ✓ Lower | 6.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 15.2 min ✓ Shorter | 23.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.1% ✓ Higher | 6.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 101⚠ High | 72 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High | 73 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 | 71 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B- (94) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.4% | 27.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% ✓ Higher | 81.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ABILENE ISD | EL PASO ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.8°F ✓ Warmer | 58.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.4°F ✓ Warmer | 95.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.4" | 10.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.7" | 2.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,356 | 677,181 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.2 | 33.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.0% | 59.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.1% | 25.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 13.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Abilene's cost of living index is 89.8 vs El Paso's 90.2 (US average = 100).
Abilene is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, El Paso leads 14 of 22 categories. Abilene wins 8 and El Paso 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 El Paso or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($161,800 vs $159,300 median home), income ($59,254 vs $55,710), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Abilene, TX and El Paso, TX are about 394 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.