Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Abilene, TX
VS
Round Rock, TX
🏆 Round Rock leads 13 of 23 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 ✓ Larger
Round Rock
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6
Median Household Income
$91,888 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
34 ✓ Safer
Population
120,465
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Abilene, TX
Pros
Homes cost $176k less ($161,800 vs $337,500)
Rent averages $526/mo less ($1,060 vs $1,586)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (2.8%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.8)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Round Rock
Cons
Median income trails Round Rock by $32,634/yr
Round Rock, TX
Pros
69% less violent crime than Abilene
Households earn $32,634 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (130.7 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 42.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $337,500
Higher rents — median is $1,586/mo
Higher unemployment (3.8% vs 2.8%)
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Abilene
Key Differences at a Glance
Abilene
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 89.8 vs 97.6 (100 = US avg)
Abilene
Median Home Value
$176k less
$161,800 vs $337,500
Abilene
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
2.8% vs 3.8% unemployment
Round Rock
Median Income
$32,634
$91,888 vs $59,254/yr
Round Rock
Violent Crime
69% lower
130.7 vs 424.5 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Abilene, TX | Round Rock, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.8 ✓ Cheaper | 97.6 |
| Median Home Value | $161,800 ✓ Lower | $337,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,060 ✓ Lower | $1,586⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,254 | $91,888 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.8% ✓ Lower | 3.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 15.2 min ✓ Shorter | 25.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.1% | 19.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 101⚠ High | 58 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 ✓ Safer | 92 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | A- (115) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 | 14.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.4% | 42.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% | 93.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ABILENE ISD | ROUND ROCK ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.8°F | 59.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 96.4°F ✓ Warmer | 95.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.4" ✓ Drier | 36.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,356 ✓ Larger | 120,465 |
| Median Age | 32.2 | 35.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.0% | 55.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.1% | 25.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.5% ✓ More | 10.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Abilene's cost of living index is 89.8 vs Round Rock's 97.6 (US average = 100).
Abilene is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Round Rock leads 13 of 23 categories. Abilene wins 10 and Round Rock wins 13. 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 Round Rock or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($161,800 vs $337,500 median home), income ($59,254 vs $91,888), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Abilene, TX and Round Rock, TX are about 181 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.