Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Abilene, TX
VS
Philadelphia, PA
🏆 Abilene leads 17 of 22 categories
Abilene
Texas
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,254 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
126,356
Philadelphia
Pennsylvania
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$57,537
Violent Crime Index
239⚠ High
Population
1,593,208 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Abilene, TX
Pros
53% less violent crime than Philadelphia
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.8 pts lower (2.8%)
Homes cost $54k less ($161,800 vs $215,500)
Commutes run 18 min shorter each way
Rent averages $190/mo less ($1,060 vs $1,250)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Philadelphia
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Philadelphia, PA
Pros
More college-educated — 33.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 89°F vs 96°F
Cons
Violent crime (908.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Abilene
Property crime (4548.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.6% vs 2.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Abilene
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 89.8 vs 103.5 (100 = US avg)
Abilene
Median Income
$1,717
$59,254 vs $57,537/yr
Abilene
Violent Crime
53% lower
424.5 vs 908.7 per 100k
Abilene
Median Home Value
$54k less
$161,800 vs $215,500
Abilene
Unemployment
5.8 pp lower
2.8% vs 8.6% unemployment
Abilene
Summer Heat
7.1°F warmer
July avg high 96.4°F vs 89.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Abilene, TX | Philadelphia, PA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.8 ✓ Cheaper | 103.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $161,800 ✓ Lower | $215,500 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,060 ✓ Lower | $1,250 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,254 ✓ Higher | $57,537 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.8% ✓ Lower | 8.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 15.2 min ✓ Shorter | 32.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.1% | 13.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 101⚠ High ✓ Safer | 230⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer | 239⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 ✓ Safer | 217⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B- (92) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.4% | 33.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% ✓ Higher | 86.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ABILENE ISD | Philadelphia City SD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.8°F ✓ Warmer | 41.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.4°F ✓ Warmer | 89.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.4" ✓ Drier | 50.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.7" ✓ Less | 16.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,356 | 1,593,208 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.2 | 34.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.0% ✓ Higher | 52.2% |
| Under 18 | 23.1% ✓ More | 21.5% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 14.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Abilene's cost of living index is 89.8 vs Philadelphia's 103.5 (US average = 100).
Abilene is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Abilene leads 17 of 22 categories. Abilene wins 17 and Philadelphia wins 5. 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 Philadelphia or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($161,800 vs $215,500 median home), income ($59,254 vs $57,537), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Abilene, TX and Philadelphia, PA are about 1,461 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.