Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Abilene, TX
VS
Hialeah, FL
🏆 Abilene leads 14 of 23 categories
Abilene
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,254 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High
Population
126,356
Hialeah
Florida
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$49,531
Violent Crime Index
34 ✓ Safer
Population
222,996 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Abilene, TX
Pros
Homes cost $163k less ($161,800 vs $324,300)
Rent averages $398/mo less ($1,060 vs $1,458)
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Hialeah
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
Households earn $9,723 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (2.8%)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Hialeah, FL
Pros
69% less violent crime than Abilene
Violent crime is well below the national average (129.6 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 77°F vs 59°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 91°F vs 96°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $324,300
Higher rents — median is $1,458/mo
Cost of living runs 22% higher than Abilene
Median income trails Abilene by $9,723/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Abilene
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 89.8 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Abilene
Median Income
$9,723
$59,254 vs $49,531/yr
Abilene
Median Home Value
$163k less
$161,800 vs $324,300
Abilene
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
2.8% vs 3.7% unemployment
Abilene
Summer Heat
5.6°F warmer
July avg high 96.4°F vs 90.8°F
Hialeah
Violent Crime
69% lower
129.6 vs 424.5 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Abilene, TX | Hialeah, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.8 ✓ Cheaper | 111.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $161,800 ✓ Lower | $324,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,060 ✓ Lower | $1,458⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,254 ✓ Higher | $49,531 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.8% ✓ Lower | 3.7% |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 15.2 min ✓ Shorter | 29.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.1% | 11.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 101⚠ High | 37 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 | 41 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) ✓ Better | C+ (86) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.4% ✓ Higher | 19.9% |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% ✓ Higher | 74.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ABILENE ISD | MIAMI-DADE |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.8°F | 76.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 96.4°F ✓ Warmer | 90.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.4" ✓ Drier | 62.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,356 | 222,996 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.2 | 45.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.0% ✓ Higher | 47.4% |
| Under 18 | 23.1% ✓ More | 16.9% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 20.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Abilene's cost of living index is 89.8 vs Hialeah's 111.8 (US average = 100).
Abilene is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Abilene leads 14 of 23 categories. Abilene wins 14 and Hialeah 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 Hialeah or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($161,800 vs $324,300 median home), income ($59,254 vs $49,531), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Abilene, TX and Hialeah, FL are about 1,255 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.