Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Abilene, TX
VS
Greensboro, NC
🏆 Abilene leads 15 of 23 categories
Abilene
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,254 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
126,356
Greensboro
North Carolina
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.7
Median Household Income
$55,051
Violent Crime Index
243⚠ High
Population
297,202 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Abilene, TX
Pros
54% less violent crime than Greensboro
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.7 pts lower (2.8%)
Homes cost $35k less ($161,800 vs $197,200)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.8)
Households earn $4,203 more per year on average
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Greensboro, NC
Pros
More college-educated — 39.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.7)
Cooler summers — July highs near 89°F vs 96°F
Cons
Violent crime (923.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3383.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.5% vs 2.8%)
Median income trails Abilene by $4,203/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Abilene
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 89.8 vs 92.7 (100 = US avg)
Abilene
Median Income
$4,203
$59,254 vs $55,051/yr
Abilene
Violent Crime
54% lower
424.5 vs 923.7 per 100k
Abilene
Median Home Value
$35k less
$161,800 vs $197,200
Abilene
Unemployment
2.7 pp lower
2.8% vs 5.5% unemployment
Abilene
Summer Heat
7.8°F warmer
July avg high 96.4°F vs 88.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Abilene, TX | Greensboro, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.8 ✓ Cheaper | 92.7 |
| Median Home Value | $161,800 ✓ Lower | $197,200 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,060 | $1,048 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,254 ✓ Higher | $55,051 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.8% ✓ Lower | 5.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 15.2 min ✓ Shorter | 21.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.1% | 9.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 101⚠ High ✓ Safer | 210⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer | 243⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 ✓ Safer | 161⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.4% | 39.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% | 90.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ABILENE ISD | Guilford County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.8°F ✓ Warmer | 50.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.4°F ✓ Warmer | 88.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.4" ✓ Drier | 45.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.7" ✓ Less | 7.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,356 | 297,202 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.2 | 34.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.0% ✓ Higher | 49.6% |
| Under 18 | 23.1% ✓ More | 22.1% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 13.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Abilene's cost of living index is 89.8 vs Greensboro's 92.7 (US average = 100).
Abilene is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Abilene leads 15 of 23 categories. Abilene wins 15 and Greensboro 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 Greensboro or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($161,800 vs $197,200 median home), income ($59,254 vs $55,051), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Abilene, TX and Greensboro, NC are about 1,162 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.