Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Abilene, TX
VS
Midland, TX
🏆 Abilene leads 12 of 23 categories
Abilene
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,254
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High
Population
126,356
Midland
Texas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.8
Median Household Income
$90,448 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
96 ✓ Safer
Population
132,490 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Abilene, TX
Pros
Homes cost $119k less ($161,800 vs $280,700)
Rent averages $340/mo less ($1,060 vs $1,400)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.8)
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Midland
Smaller class sizes — 14.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Midland by $31,194/yr
Midland, TX
Pros
Households earn $31,194 more per year on average
14% less violent crime than Abilene
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.8)
More college-educated — 31.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,400/mo
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Abilene
Key Differences at a Glance
Abilene
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 89.8 vs 94.8 (100 = US avg)
Abilene
Median Home Value
$119k less
$161,800 vs $280,700
Midland
Median Income
$31,194
$90,448 vs $59,254/yr
Midland
Violent Crime
14% lower
364.9 vs 424.5 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Abilene, TX | Midland, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.8 ✓ Cheaper | 94.8 |
| Median Home Value | $161,800 ✓ Lower | $280,700 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,060 ✓ Lower | $1,400⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,254 | $90,448 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.8% ✓ Lower | 3.2% |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 15.2 min ✓ Shorter | 19.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.1% ✓ Higher | 5.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 101⚠ High | 88 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High | 96 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 | 77 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) ✓ Better | C+ (83) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.4% | 31.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% ✓ Higher | 84.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ABILENE ISD | MIDLAND ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.8°F | 60.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 96.4°F ✓ Warmer | 95.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.4" | 16.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.7" | 1.9" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,356 | 132,490 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.2 ✓ Older | 31.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.0% | 63.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.1% | 28.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.5% ✓ More | 10.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Abilene's cost of living index is 89.8 vs Midland's 94.8 (US average = 100).
Abilene is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Abilene leads 12 of 23 categories. Abilene wins 12 and Midland 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 Midland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($161,800 vs $280,700 median home), income ($59,254 vs $90,448), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Abilene, TX and Midland, TX are about 142 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.