Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Abilene, TX
VS
Los Angeles, CA
🏆 Abilene leads 13 of 23 categories
Abilene
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,254
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
126,356
Los Angeles
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,244 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
192⚠ High
Population
3,881,041 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Abilene, TX
Pros
Homes cost $661k less ($161,800 vs $822,600)
Rent averages $731/mo less ($1,060 vs $1,791)
42% less violent crime than Los Angeles
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.9 pts lower (2.8%)
26% cheaper overall cost of living than Los Angeles
Commutes run 16 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Los Angeles by $16,990/yr
Los Angeles, CA
Pros
Households earn $16,990 more per year on average
More college-educated — 36.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 78°F vs 96°F
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 59°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $822,600
Higher rents — median is $1,791/mo
Cost of living runs 26% higher than Abilene
Violent crime (728.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Abilene
Cost of Living
26% cheaper
COL index 89.8 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Abilene
Violent Crime
42% lower
424.5 vs 728.5 per 100k
Abilene
Median Home Value
$661k less
$161,800 vs $822,600
Abilene
Unemployment
4.9 pp lower
2.8% vs 7.7% unemployment
Abilene
Summer Heat
18.4°F warmer
July avg high 96.4°F vs 78.0°F
Los Angeles
Median Income
$16,990
$76,244 vs $59,254/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Abilene, TX | Los Angeles, 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 | $822,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,060 ✓ Lower | $1,791⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,254 | $76,244 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.8% ✓ Lower | 7.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 15.2 min ✓ Shorter | 31.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.1% | 15.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 101⚠ High ✓ Safer | 143⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer | 192⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 | 71 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B- (93) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.4% | 36.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% ✓ Higher | 78.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ABILENE ISD | Los Angeles Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.8°F | 66.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 96.4°F ✓ Warmer | 78.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.4" | 14.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,356 | 3,881,041 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.2 | 36.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.0% ✓ Higher | 36.6% |
| Under 18 | 23.1% ✓ More | 19.7% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% ✓ More | 13.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Abilene's cost of living index is 89.8 vs Los Angeles's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Abilene is 26% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Abilene leads 13 of 23 categories. Abilene wins 13 and Los Angeles wins 10. 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 Los Angeles or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($161,800 vs $822,600 median home), income ($59,254 vs $76,244), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Abilene, TX and Los Angeles, CA are about 1,083 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.