Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Abilene, TX
VS
Orange, CA
🏆 Orange leads 15 of 23 categories
Abilene
Texas
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,254
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High
Population
126,356
Orange
California
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$109,335 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
60 ✓ Safer
Population
138,728 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Abilene, TX
Pros
Homes cost $686k less ($161,800 vs $848,200)
Rent averages $1088/mo less ($1,060 vs $2,148)
26% cheaper overall cost of living than Orange
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (2.8%)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.8)
Cons
Median income trails Orange by $50,081/yr
Orange, CA
Pros
Households earn $50,081 more per year on average
47% less violent crime than Abilene
Violent crime is well below the national average (226.1 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 40.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 96°F
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 59°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $848,200
Higher rents — median is $2,148/mo
Cost of living runs 26% higher than Abilene
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Abilene
Cost of Living
26% cheaper
COL index 89.8 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Abilene
Median Home Value
$686k less
$161,800 vs $848,200
Abilene
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
2.8% vs 4.7% unemployment
Abilene
Summer Heat
13.9°F warmer
July avg high 96.4°F vs 82.5°F
Orange
Median Income
$50,081
$109,335 vs $59,254/yr
Orange
Violent Crime
47% lower
226.1 vs 424.5 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Abilene, TX | Orange, 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 | $848,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,060 ✓ Lower | $2,148⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,254 | $109,335 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.8% ✓ Lower | 4.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 15.2 min ✓ Shorter | 26.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.1% | 14.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 101⚠ High | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 | 61 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B (98) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.4% | 40.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% | 88.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ABILENE ISD | Orange Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.8°F | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 96.4°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.4" | 12.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,356 | 138,728 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.2 | 36.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.0% | 58.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.1% ✓ More | 20.5% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 14.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Abilene's cost of living index is 89.8 vs Orange's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Abilene is 26% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Orange leads 15 of 23 categories. Abilene wins 8 and Orange wins 15. 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 Orange or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($161,800 vs $848,200 median home), income ($59,254 vs $109,335), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Abilene, TX and Orange, CA are about 1,051 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.