Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Abilene, TX
VS
Kenosha, WI
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Abilene
Texas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,254
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High
Population
126,356 ✓ Larger
Kenosha
Wisconsin
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,963 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
75 ✓ Safer
Population
99,493
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Abilene, TX
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.6 pts lower (2.8%)
Homes cost $33k less ($161,800 vs $194,400)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 31°F
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Kenosha
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.8)
Cons
Median income trails Kenosha by $5,709/yr
Kenosha, WI
Pros
33% less violent crime than Abilene
Households earn $5,709 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 96°F
Cons
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Abilene
Higher unemployment (5.4% vs 2.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Abilene
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 89.8 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Abilene
Median Home Value
$33k less
$161,800 vs $194,400
Abilene
Unemployment
2.6 pp lower
2.8% vs 5.4% unemployment
Abilene
Summer Heat
12.6°F warmer
July avg high 96.4°F vs 83.8°F
Kenosha
Median Income
$5,709
$64,963 vs $59,254/yr
Kenosha
Violent Crime
33% lower
285.7 vs 424.5 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Abilene, TX | Kenosha, WI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.8 ✓ Cheaper | 102.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $161,800 ✓ Lower | $194,400 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,060 ✓ Lower | $1,079 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,254 | $64,963 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.8% ✓ Lower | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 15.2 min ✓ Shorter | 24.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.1% ✓ Higher | 6.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 101⚠ High | 62 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High | 75 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 | 41 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B (99) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 | 14.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.4% | 27.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% | 89.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ABILENE ISD | Kenosha School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.8°F ✓ Warmer | 31.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.4°F ✓ Warmer | 83.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.4" ✓ Drier | 36.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.7" ✓ Less | 36.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,356 ✓ Larger | 99,493 |
| Median Age | 32.2 | 36.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.0% | 58.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.1% | 23.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 13.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Abilene's cost of living index is 89.8 vs Kenosha's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Abilene is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Abilene wins 11 and Kenosha 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 Kenosha or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($161,800 vs $194,400 median home), income ($59,254 vs $64,963), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Abilene, TX and Kenosha, WI are about 953 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.