Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Abilene, TX
VS
Port St. Lucie, FL
🏆 Port St. Lucie leads 12 of 22 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
Port St. Lucie
Florida
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.7⚠ High
Median Household Income
$75,040 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
31 ✓ Safer
Population
210,520 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Abilene, TX
Pros
Homes cost $131k less ($161,800 vs $292,900)
Rent averages $624/mo less ($1,060 vs $1,684)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.9 pts lower (2.8%)
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Port St. Lucie
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.8)
Cons
Median income trails Port St. Lucie by $15,786/yr
Port St. Lucie, FL
Pros
73% less violent crime than Abilene
Households earn $15,786 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (116.7 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 73°F vs 59°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 89°F vs 96°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,684/mo
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Abilene
Higher unemployment (5.7% vs 2.8%)
Longer commutes — 29.2 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Abilene
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 89.8 vs 101.7 (100 = US avg)
Abilene
Median Home Value
$131k less
$161,800 vs $292,900
Abilene
Unemployment
2.9 pp lower
2.8% vs 5.7% unemployment
Abilene
Summer Heat
7.8°F warmer
July avg high 96.4°F vs 88.6°F
Port St. Lucie
Median Income
$15,786
$75,040 vs $59,254/yr
Port St. Lucie
Violent Crime
73% lower
116.7 vs 424.5 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Abilene, TX | Port St. Lucie, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.8 ✓ Cheaper | 101.7⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $161,800 ✓ Lower | $292,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,060 ✓ Lower | $1,684⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,254 | $75,040 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.8% ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 15.2 min ✓ Shorter | 29.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.1% | 9.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 101⚠ High | 33 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High | 31 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 | 36 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B- (92) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.4% ✓ Higher | 26.2% |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% | 90.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ABILENE ISD | ST. LUCIE |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.8°F | 73.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 96.4°F ✓ Warmer | 88.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.4" ✓ Drier | 60.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,356 | 210,520 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.2 | 43.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.0% | 82.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.1% ✓ More | 20.8% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 21.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Abilene's cost of living index is 89.8 vs Port St. Lucie's 101.7 (US average = 100).
Abilene is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Port St. Lucie leads 12 of 22 categories. Abilene wins 10 and Port St. Lucie wins 12. 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 Port St. Lucie or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($161,800 vs $292,900 median home), income ($59,254 vs $75,040), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Abilene, TX and Port St. Lucie, FL are about 1,211 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.