Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Abilene, TX
VS
Newark, NJ
🏆 Abilene leads 20 of 23 categories
Abilene
Texas
20
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,254 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
126,356
Newark
New Jersey
3
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$46,460
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High
Population
307,355 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Abilene, TX
Pros
Homes cost $151k less ($161,800 vs $312,300)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 7.9 pts lower (2.8%)
27% less violent crime than Newark
Commutes run 18 min shorter each way
23% cheaper overall cost of living than Newark
Households earn $12,794 more per year on average
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Newark, NJ
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 96°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $312,300
Violent crime (581.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 23% higher than Abilene
Median income trails Abilene by $12,794/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Abilene
Cost of Living
23% cheaper
COL index 89.8 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Abilene
Median Income
$12,794
$59,254 vs $46,460/yr
Abilene
Violent Crime
27% lower
424.5 vs 581.2 per 100k
Abilene
Median Home Value
$151k less
$161,800 vs $312,300
Abilene
Unemployment
7.9 pp lower
2.8% vs 10.7% unemployment
Abilene
Summer Heat
9.6°F warmer
July avg high 96.4°F vs 86.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Abilene, TX | Newark, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.8 ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $161,800 ✓ Lower | $312,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,060 ✓ Lower | $1,273 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,254 ✓ Higher | $46,460 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.8% ✓ Lower | 10.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 15.2 min ✓ Shorter | 33.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.1% ✓ Higher | 4.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 101⚠ High ✓ Safer | 129⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer | 153⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 ✓ Safer | 93 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) ✓ Better | C+ (85) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.4% ✓ Higher | 17.0% |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% ✓ Higher | 77.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ABILENE ISD | Newark Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.8°F ✓ Warmer | 39.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.4°F ✓ Warmer | 86.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.4" ✓ Drier | 50.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.7" ✓ Less | 28.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,356 | 307,355 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.2 | 34.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.0% ✓ Higher | 23.9% |
| Under 18 | 23.1% | 24.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.5% ✓ More | 10.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Abilene's cost of living index is 89.8 vs Newark's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Abilene is 23% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Abilene leads 20 of 23 categories. Abilene wins 20 and Newark wins 3. 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 Newark or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($161,800 vs $312,300 median home), income ($59,254 vs $46,460), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Abilene, TX and Newark, NJ are about 1,522 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.