Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Abilene, TX
VS
Ontario, 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
Population
126,356
Ontario
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,070 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
176,326 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Abilene, TX
Pros
Homes cost $351k less ($161,800 vs $513,000)
Rent averages $766/mo less ($1,060 vs $1,826)
Commutes run 16 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.0 pts lower (2.8%)
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Ontario
More college-educated — 26.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Ontario by $18,816/yr
Ontario, CA
Pros
36% less violent crime than Abilene
Households earn $18,816 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 59°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $513,000
Higher rents — median is $1,826/mo
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Abilene
Higher unemployment (5.8% vs 2.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Abilene
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 89.8 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Abilene
Median Home Value
$351k less
$161,800 vs $513,000
Abilene
Unemployment
3.0 pp lower
2.8% vs 5.8% unemployment
Ontario
Median Income
$18,816
$78,070 vs $59,254/yr
Ontario
Violent Crime
36% lower
272.2 vs 424.5 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Abilene, TX | Ontario, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.8 ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $161,800 ✓ Lower | $513,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,060 ✓ Lower | $1,826⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,254 | $78,070 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.8% ✓ Lower | 5.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 15.2 min ✓ Shorter | 31.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.1% ✓ Higher | 6.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 101⚠ High | 78 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High | 72 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 ✓ Safer | 87 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) ✓ Better | C- (65) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.4% ✓ Higher | 19.2% |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% ✓ Higher | 76.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ABILENE ISD | Ontario-Montclair |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.8°F | 67.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 96.4°F ✓ Warmer | 93.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.4" | 11.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,356 | 176,326 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.2 | 32.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.0% | 55.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.1% | 24.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.5% ✓ More | 10.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Abilene's cost of living index is 89.8 vs Ontario's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Abilene is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Abilene leads 13 of 23 categories. Abilene wins 13 and Ontario 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 Ontario or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($161,800 vs $513,000 median home), income ($59,254 vs $78,070), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Abilene, TX and Ontario, CA are about 1,037 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.