Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Abilene, TX
VS
Provo, UT
🏆 Abilene leads 15 of 23 categories
Abilene
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,254 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High
Population
126,356 ✓ Larger
Provo
Utah
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.8
Median Household Income
$57,943
Violent Crime Index
54 ✓ Safer
Population
114,400
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Abilene, TX
Pros
Homes cost $230k less ($161,800 vs $391,500)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (2.8%)
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 41°F
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.8)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Provo
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Provo, UT
Pros
51% less violent crime than Abilene
Violent crime is well below the national average (206.6 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 44.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $391,500
Higher unemployment (4.4% vs 2.8%)
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Abilene
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Abilene
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 89.8 vs 95.8 (100 = US avg)
Abilene
Median Income
$1,311
$59,254 vs $57,943/yr
Abilene
Median Home Value
$230k less
$161,800 vs $391,500
Abilene
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
2.8% vs 4.4% unemployment
Provo
Violent Crime
51% lower
206.6 vs 424.5 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Abilene, TX | Provo, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.8 ✓ Cheaper | 95.8 |
| Median Home Value | $161,800 ✓ Lower | $391,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,060 ✓ Lower | $1,089 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,254 ✓ Higher | $57,943 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.8% ✓ Lower | 4.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 15.2 min ✓ Shorter | 18.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.1% | 12.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 101⚠ High | 57 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High | 54 ✓ 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 (102) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.4% | 44.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% | 92.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ABILENE ISD | Provo District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.8°F ✓ Warmer | 41.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.4°F ✓ Warmer | 95.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.4" | 17.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.7" ✓ Less | 44.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,356 ✓ Larger | 114,400 |
| Median Age | 32.2 ✓ Older | 23.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.0% ✓ Higher | 39.1% |
| Under 18 | 23.1% ✓ More | 18.9% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% ✓ More | 6.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Abilene's cost of living index is 89.8 vs Provo's 95.8 (US average = 100).
Abilene is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Abilene leads 15 of 23 categories. Abilene wins 15 and Provo wins 8. 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 Provo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($161,800 vs $391,500 median home), income ($59,254 vs $57,943), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Abilene, TX and Provo, UT are about 852 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.