Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Abilene, TX
VS
Pearland, TX
🏆 Pearland leads 13 of 23 categories
Abilene
Texas
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,254
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High
Population
126,356 ✓ Larger
Pearland
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$111,123 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
25 ✓ Safer
Population
124,478
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Abilene, TX
Pros
Homes cost $149k less ($161,800 vs $311,100)
Rent averages $562/mo less ($1,060 vs $1,622)
Commutes run 18 min shorter each way
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Pearland
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.8)
Cons
Median income trails Pearland by $51,869/yr
Pearland, TX
Pros
Households earn $51,869 more per year on average
77% less violent crime than Abilene
Violent crime is well below the national average (95.9 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 47.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 59°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $311,100
Higher rents — median is $1,622/mo
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Abilene
Longer commutes — 33.6 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Abilene
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 89.8 vs 100.2 (100 = US avg)
Abilene
Median Home Value
$149k less
$161,800 vs $311,100
Abilene
Summer Heat
3.1°F warmer
July avg high 96.4°F vs 93.3°F
Pearland
Median Income
$51,869
$111,123 vs $59,254/yr
Pearland
Violent Crime
77% lower
95.9 vs 424.5 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Abilene, TX | Pearland, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.8 ✓ Cheaper | 100.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $161,800 ✓ Lower | $311,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,060 ✓ Lower | $1,622⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,254 | $111,123 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.8% ✓ Lower | 3.2% |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 15.2 min ✓ Shorter | 33.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.1% | 10.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 101⚠ High | 43 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High | 25 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 | 69 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | A- (115) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.4% | 47.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% | 94.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ABILENE ISD | PEARLAND ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.8°F | 64.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 96.4°F ✓ Warmer | 93.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.4" ✓ Drier | 53.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,356 ✓ Larger | 124,478 |
| Median Age | 32.2 | 36.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.0% | 76.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.1% | 28.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.5% ✓ More | 11.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Abilene's cost of living index is 89.8 vs Pearland's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Abilene is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Pearland leads 13 of 23 categories. Abilene wins 10 and Pearland wins 13. 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 Pearland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($161,800 vs $311,100 median home), income ($59,254 vs $111,123), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Abilene, TX and Pearland, TX are about 329 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.