Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Abilene, TX
VS
Fishers, IN
🏆 Fishers 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
Fishers
Indiana
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.6
Median Household Income
$126,548 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
19 ✓ Safer
Population
99,041
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Abilene, TX
Pros
Homes cost $177k less ($161,800 vs $339,000)
Rent averages $418/mo less ($1,060 vs $1,478)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 35°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.8)
Smaller class sizes — 14.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Fishers by $67,294/yr
Fishers, IN
Pros
Households earn $67,294 more per year on average
83% less violent crime than Abilene
More college-educated — 65.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (72.9 vs 380/100k)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.6)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 96°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $339,000
Higher rents — median is $1,478/mo
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Abilene
Key Differences at a Glance
Abilene
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 89.8 vs 94.6 (100 = US avg)
Abilene
Median Home Value
$177k less
$161,800 vs $339,000
Abilene
Summer Heat
12.0°F warmer
July avg high 96.4°F vs 84.4°F
Fishers
Median Income
$67,294
$126,548 vs $59,254/yr
Fishers
Violent Crime
83% lower
72.9 vs 424.5 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Abilene, TX | Fishers, IN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.8 ✓ Cheaper | 94.6 |
| Median Home Value | $161,800 ✓ Lower | $339,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,060 ✓ Lower | $1,478⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,254 | $126,548 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.8% | 2.5% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 15.2 min ✓ Shorter | 26.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.1% | 18.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 101⚠ High | 24 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High | 19 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 | 31 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | A (118) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.4% | 65.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% | 98.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ABILENE ISD | Hamilton Southeastern Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.8°F ✓ Warmer | 34.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.4°F ✓ Warmer | 84.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.4" ✓ Drier | 45.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.7" ✓ Less | 26.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,356 ✓ Larger | 99,041 |
| Median Age | 32.2 | 37.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.0% | 77.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.1% | 27.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.5% ✓ More | 10.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Abilene's cost of living index is 89.8 vs Fishers's 94.6 (US average = 100).
Abilene is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fishers leads 12 of 23 categories. Abilene wins 11 and Fishers 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 Fishers or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($161,800 vs $339,000 median home), income ($59,254 vs $126,548), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Abilene, TX and Fishers, IN are about 925 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.