Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Abilene, TX
VS
Fullerton, CA
🏆 Abilene leads 12 of 23 categories
Abilene
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,254
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
126,356
Fullerton
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$99,279 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
120⚠ High
Population
142,280 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Abilene, TX
Pros
Homes cost $629k less ($161,800 vs $791,000)
Rent averages $929/mo less ($1,060 vs $1,989)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.1 pts lower (2.8%)
26% cheaper overall cost of living than Fullerton
7% less violent crime than Fullerton
Commutes run 15 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Fullerton by $40,025/yr
Fullerton, CA
Pros
Households earn $40,025 more per year on average
More college-educated — 44.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 96°F
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 59°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $791,000
Higher rents — median is $1,989/mo
Cost of living runs 26% higher than Abilene
Violent crime (455.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Abilene
Cost of Living
26% cheaper
COL index 89.8 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Abilene
Violent Crime
7% lower
424.5 vs 455.3 per 100k
Abilene
Median Home Value
$629k less
$161,800 vs $791,000
Abilene
Unemployment
4.1 pp lower
2.8% vs 6.9% unemployment
Abilene
Summer Heat
12.0°F warmer
July avg high 96.4°F vs 84.4°F
Fullerton
Median Income
$40,025
$99,279 vs $59,254/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Abilene, TX | Fullerton, 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 | $791,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,060 ✓ Lower | $1,989⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,254 | $99,279 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.8% ✓ Lower | 6.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 15.2 min ✓ Shorter | 30.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.1% | 11.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 101⚠ High ✓ Safer | 110⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer | 120⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 ✓ Safer | 96 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B- (93) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 25.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.4% | 44.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% | 89.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ABILENE ISD | Fullerton Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.8°F | 68.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 96.4°F ✓ Warmer | 84.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.4" | 11.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,356 | 142,280 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.2 | 35.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.0% ✓ Higher | 51.6% |
| Under 18 | 23.1% ✓ More | 22.4% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 13.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Abilene's cost of living index is 89.8 vs Fullerton's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Abilene is 26% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Abilene leads 12 of 23 categories. Abilene wins 12 and Fullerton wins 11. 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 Fullerton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($161,800 vs $791,000 median home), income ($59,254 vs $99,279), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Abilene, TX and Fullerton, CA are about 1,055 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.