Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Abilene, TX
VS
Glendale, CA
🏆 Glendale leads 13 of 23 categories
Abilene
Texas
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,254
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High
Population
126,356
Glendale
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$81,219 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
76 ✓ Safer
Population
194,512 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Abilene, TX
Pros
Homes cost $830k less ($161,800 vs $992,000)
Rent averages $942/mo less ($1,060 vs $2,002)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.3 pts lower (2.8%)
26% cheaper overall cost of living than Glendale
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.8)
Cons
Median income trails Glendale by $21,965/yr
Glendale, CA
Pros
32% less violent crime than Abilene
Households earn $21,965 more per year on average
More college-educated — 43.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 96°F
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 59°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $992,000
Higher rents — median is $2,002/mo
Cost of living runs 26% higher than Abilene
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Abilene
Cost of Living
26% cheaper
COL index 89.8 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Abilene
Median Home Value
$830k less
$161,800 vs $992,000
Abilene
Unemployment
5.3 pp lower
2.8% vs 8.1% unemployment
Abilene
Summer Heat
10.6°F warmer
July avg high 96.4°F vs 85.8°F
Glendale
Median Income
$21,965
$81,219 vs $59,254/yr
Glendale
Violent Crime
32% lower
287.2 vs 424.5 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Abilene, TX | Glendale, 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 | $992,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,060 ✓ Lower | $2,002⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,254 | $81,219 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.8% ✓ Lower | 8.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 15.2 min ✓ Shorter | 27.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.1% | 16.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 101⚠ High | 84 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High | 76 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 ✓ Safer | 97 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B (99) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.4% | 43.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% | 88.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ABILENE ISD | Glendale Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.8°F | 69.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 96.4°F ✓ Warmer | 85.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.4" | 16.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,356 | 194,512 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.2 | 41.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.0% ✓ Higher | 34.2% |
| Under 18 | 23.1% ✓ More | 18.0% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 18.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Abilene's cost of living index is 89.8 vs Glendale's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Abilene is 26% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Glendale leads 13 of 23 categories. Abilene wins 10 and Glendale wins 13. 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 Glendale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($161,800 vs $992,000 median home), income ($59,254 vs $81,219), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Abilene, TX and Glendale, CA are about 1,074 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.