Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Abilene, TX
VS
Richmond, CA
🏆 Abilene leads 16 of 22 categories
Abilene
Texas
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,254
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
126,356 ✓ Larger
Richmond
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,618 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
243⚠ High
Population
115,619
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Abilene, TX
Pros
Homes cost $463k less ($161,800 vs $624,800)
Rent averages $793/mo less ($1,060 vs $1,853)
54% less violent crime than Richmond
28% cheaper overall cost of living than Richmond
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.1 pts lower (2.8%)
Commutes run 19 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Richmond by $27,364/yr
Richmond, CA
Pros
Households earn $27,364 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 71°F vs 96°F
More college-educated — 32.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $624,800
Higher rents — median is $1,853/mo
Cost of living runs 28% higher than Abilene
Violent crime (923.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Abilene
Cost of Living
28% cheaper
COL index 89.8 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Abilene
Violent Crime
54% lower
424.5 vs 923.1 per 100k
Abilene
Median Home Value
$463k less
$161,800 vs $624,800
Abilene
Unemployment
4.1 pp lower
2.8% vs 6.9% unemployment
Abilene
Summer Heat
25.6°F warmer
July avg high 96.4°F vs 70.8°F
Richmond
Median Income
$27,364
$86,618 vs $59,254/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Abilene, TX | Richmond, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.8 ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $161,800 ✓ Lower | $624,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,060 ✓ Lower | $1,853⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,254 | $86,618 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.8% ✓ Lower | 6.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 15.2 min ✓ Shorter | 34.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.1% | 11.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 101⚠ High ✓ Safer | 198⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer | 243⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 ✓ Safer | 132⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) ✓ Better | C+ (86) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.4% | 32.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% ✓ Higher | 79.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ABILENE ISD | West Contra Costa Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.8°F ✓ Warmer | 58.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.4°F ✓ Warmer | 70.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.4" | 24.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,356 ✓ Larger | 115,619 |
| Median Age | 32.2 | 37.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.0% ✓ Higher | 51.9% |
| Under 18 | 23.1% ✓ More | 21.4% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 14.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Abilene's cost of living index is 89.8 vs Richmond's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Abilene is 28% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Abilene leads 16 of 22 categories. Abilene wins 16 and Richmond wins 6. 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 Richmond or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($161,800 vs $624,800 median home), income ($59,254 vs $86,618), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Abilene, TX and Richmond, CA are about 1,329 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.