Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Abilene, TX
VS
Norwalk, CT
🏆 Norwalk leads 12 of 23 categories
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
Norwalk
Connecticut
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$97,879 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
22 ✓ Safer
Population
91,050
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Abilene, TX
Pros
Homes cost $330k less ($161,800 vs $491,800)
Rent averages $801/mo less ($1,060 vs $1,861)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.1 pts lower (2.8%)
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Norwalk
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 38°F
Cons
Median income trails Norwalk by $38,625/yr
Norwalk, CT
Pros
80% less violent crime than Abilene
Households earn $38,625 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (85.0 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 42.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 96°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $491,800
Higher rents — median is $1,861/mo
Cost of living runs 17% higher than Abilene
Higher unemployment (5.9% vs 2.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Abilene
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 89.8 vs 106.5 (100 = US avg)
Abilene
Median Home Value
$330k less
$161,800 vs $491,800
Abilene
Unemployment
3.1 pp lower
2.8% vs 5.9% unemployment
Abilene
Summer Heat
11.6°F warmer
July avg high 96.4°F vs 84.8°F
Norwalk
Median Income
$38,625
$97,879 vs $59,254/yr
Norwalk
Violent Crime
80% lower
85.0 vs 424.5 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Abilene, TX | Norwalk, CT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.8 ✓ Cheaper | 106.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $161,800 ✓ Lower | $491,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,060 ✓ Lower | $1,861⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,254 | $97,879 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.8% ✓ Lower | 5.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 15.2 min ✓ Shorter | 27.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.1% | 11.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 101⚠ High | 42 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High | 22 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 | 72 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | A- (113) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 | 12.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.4% | 42.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% | 88.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ABILENE ISD | Norwalk School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.8°F ✓ Warmer | 38.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.4°F ✓ Warmer | 84.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.4" ✓ Drier | 51.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.7" ✓ Less | 34.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,356 ✓ Larger | 91,050 |
| Median Age | 32.2 | 40.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.0% | 54.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.1% ✓ More | 19.4% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 15.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Abilene's cost of living index is 89.8 vs Norwalk's 106.5 (US average = 100).
Abilene is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Norwalk leads 12 of 23 categories. Abilene wins 11 and Norwalk wins 12. 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 Norwalk or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($161,800 vs $491,800 median home), income ($59,254 vs $97,879), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Abilene, TX and Norwalk, CT are about 1,566 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.