Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Abilene, TX
VS
Garland, TX
🏆 Abilene leads 14 of 23 categories
Abilene
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,254
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High
Population
126,356
Garland
Texas
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,044 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
61 ✓ Safer
Population
244,026 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Abilene, TX
Pros
Homes cost $67k less ($161,800 vs $229,000)
Rent averages $361/mo less ($1,060 vs $1,421)
Commutes run 15 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.4 pts lower (2.8%)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Garland
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.8)
Cons
Median income trails Garland by $11,790/yr
Garland, TX
Pros
45% less violent crime than Abilene
Violent crime is well below the national average (232.7 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $11,790 more per year on average
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,421/mo
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Abilene
Higher unemployment (5.2% vs 2.8%)
Longer commutes — 29.7 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Abilene
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 89.8 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Abilene
Median Home Value
$67k less
$161,800 vs $229,000
Abilene
Unemployment
2.4 pp lower
2.8% vs 5.2% unemployment
Garland
Median Income
$11,790
$71,044 vs $59,254/yr
Garland
Violent Crime
45% lower
232.7 vs 424.5 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Abilene, TX | Garland, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.8 ✓ Cheaper | 103.3⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $161,800 ✓ Lower | $229,000 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,060 ✓ Lower | $1,421⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,254 | $71,044 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.8% ✓ Lower | 5.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 15.2 min ✓ Shorter | 29.7 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.1% | 9.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 101⚠ High | 75 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High | 61 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 ✓ Safer | 95 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) ✓ Better | C+ (89) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.4% ✓ Higher | 24.1% |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% ✓ Higher | 78.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ABILENE ISD | GARLAND ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.8°F ✓ Warmer | 55.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.4°F ✓ Warmer | 94.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.4" ✓ Drier | 41.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.7" | 0.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,356 | 244,026 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.2 | 34.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.0% | 62.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.1% | 25.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.5% ✓ More | 12.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Abilene's cost of living index is 89.8 vs Garland's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Abilene is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Abilene leads 14 of 23 categories. Abilene wins 14 and Garland wins 9. 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 Garland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($161,800 vs $229,000 median home), income ($59,254 vs $71,044), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Abilene, TX and Garland, TX are about 183 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.