Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Abilene, TX
VS
Plano, TX
🏆 Plano leads 14 of 23 categories
Abilene
Texas
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,254
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High
Population
126,356
Plano
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$105,679 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
40 ✓ Safer
Population
284,948 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Abilene, TX
Pros
Homes cost $251k less ($161,800 vs $412,500)
Rent averages $639/mo less ($1,060 vs $1,699)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (2.8%)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Plano
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.8)
Cons
Median income trails Plano by $46,425/yr
Plano, TX
Pros
Households earn $46,425 more per year on average
64% less violent crime than Abilene
More college-educated — 58.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (151.6 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $412,500
Higher rents — median is $1,699/mo
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Abilene
Higher unemployment (4.4% vs 2.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Abilene
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 89.8 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Abilene
Median Home Value
$251k less
$161,800 vs $412,500
Abilene
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
2.8% vs 4.4% unemployment
Plano
Median Income
$46,425
$105,679 vs $59,254/yr
Plano
Violent Crime
64% lower
151.6 vs 424.5 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Abilene, TX | Plano, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.8 ✓ Cheaper | 103.3⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $161,800 ✓ Lower | $412,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,060 ✓ Lower | $1,699⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,254 | $105,679 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.8% ✓ Lower | 4.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 15.2 min ✓ Shorter | 25.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.1% | 22.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 101⚠ High | 52 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High | 40 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 | 70 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | A+ (134) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 | 13.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.4% | 58.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% | 93.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ABILENE ISD | PLANO ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.8°F ✓ Warmer | 55.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.4°F ✓ Warmer | 94.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.4" ✓ Drier | 40.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.7" | 2.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,356 | 284,948 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.2 | 38.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.0% | 56.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.1% ✓ More | 21.7% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 13.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Abilene's cost of living index is 89.8 vs Plano's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Abilene is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Plano leads 14 of 23 categories. Abilene wins 9 and Plano wins 14. 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 Plano or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($161,800 vs $412,500 median home), income ($59,254 vs $105,679), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Abilene, TX and Plano, TX are about 179 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.