Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Abilene, TX
VS
Evansville, IN
🏆 Abilene leads 14 of 22 categories
Abilene
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.8
Median Household Income
$59,254 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
126,356 ✓ Larger
Evansville
Indiana
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.8
Median Household Income
$49,853
Violent Crime Index
317⚠ High
Population
116,906
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Abilene, TX
Pros
65% less violent crime than Evansville
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.9 pts lower (2.8%)
Households earn $9,401 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 42°F
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.8)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Evansville, IN
Pros
Homes cost $41k less ($121,100 vs $161,800)
Rent averages $143/mo less ($917 vs $1,060)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.8)
Cooler summers — July highs near 89°F vs 96°F
Cons
Violent crime (1206.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Abilene by $9,401/yr
Property crime (3678.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.7% vs 2.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Abilene
Median Income
$9,401
$59,254 vs $49,853/yr
Abilene
Violent Crime
65% lower
424.5 vs 1206.2 per 100k
Abilene
Unemployment
2.9 pp lower
2.8% vs 5.7% unemployment
Abilene
Summer Heat
7.4°F warmer
July avg high 96.4°F vs 89.0°F
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 89.8 on the COL index
Evansville
Median Home Value
$41k less
$121,100 vs $161,800
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Abilene, TX | Evansville, IN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.8 | 89.8 |
| Median Home Value | $161,800 | $121,100 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,060 | $917 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,254 ✓ Higher | $49,853 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.8% ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 15.2 min ✓ Shorter | 18.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.1% ✓ Higher | 4.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 101⚠ High ✓ Safer | 261⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer | 317⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 ✓ Safer | 175⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B- (95) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 | 14.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.4% ✓ Higher | 22.4% |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% | 89.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ABILENE ISD | Evansville Vanderburgh School Corp |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.8°F ✓ Warmer | 42.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.4°F ✓ Warmer | 89.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.4" ✓ Drier | 47.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.7" ✓ Less | 10.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,356 ✓ Larger | 116,906 |
| Median Age | 32.2 | 38.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.0% | 54.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.1% ✓ More | 21.1% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 16.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Abilene's cost of living index is 89.8 vs Evansville's 89.8 (US average = 100).
Both have a similar overall cost of living.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Abilene leads 14 of 22 categories. Abilene wins 14 and Evansville wins 8. 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 Evansville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($161,800 vs $121,100 median home), income ($59,254 vs $49,853), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Abilene, TX and Evansville, IN are about 787 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.