Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Abilene, TX
VS
Sacramento, CA
🏆 Abilene leads 14 of 23 categories
Abilene
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,254
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
126,356
Sacramento
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,954 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
199⚠ High
Population
523,600 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Abilene, TX
Pros
Homes cost $289k less ($161,800 vs $450,500)
Rent averages $532/mo less ($1,060 vs $1,592)
44% less violent crime than Sacramento
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.5 pts lower (2.8%)
19% cheaper overall cost of living than Sacramento
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Sacramento by $19,700/yr
Sacramento, CA
Pros
Households earn $19,700 more per year on average
More college-educated — 35.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $450,500
Higher rents — median is $1,592/mo
Violent crime (754.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 19% higher than Abilene
Key Differences at a Glance
Abilene
Cost of Living
19% cheaper
COL index 89.8 vs 108.9 (100 = US avg)
Abilene
Violent Crime
44% lower
424.5 vs 754.9 per 100k
Abilene
Median Home Value
$289k less
$161,800 vs $450,500
Abilene
Unemployment
3.5 pp lower
2.8% vs 6.3% unemployment
Sacramento
Median Income
$19,700
$78,954 vs $59,254/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Abilene, TX | Sacramento, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.8 ✓ Cheaper | 108.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $161,800 ✓ Lower | $450,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,060 ✓ Lower | $1,592⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,254 | $78,954 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.8% ✓ Lower | 6.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 15.2 min ✓ Shorter | 25.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.1% | 15.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 101⚠ High ✓ Safer | 168⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer | 199⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 ✓ Safer | 121⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B- (93) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.4% | 35.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% ✓ Higher | 86.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ABILENE ISD | Sacramento City Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.8°F ✓ Warmer | 56.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.4°F ✓ Warmer | 94.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.4" | 20.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,356 | 523,600 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.2 | 35.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.0% ✓ Higher | 50.7% |
| Under 18 | 23.1% ✓ More | 22.0% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 13.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Abilene's cost of living index is 89.8 vs Sacramento's 108.9 (US average = 100).
Abilene is 19% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Abilene leads 14 of 23 categories. Abilene wins 14 and Sacramento wins 9. 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 Sacramento or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($161,800 vs $450,500 median home), income ($59,254 vs $78,954), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Abilene, TX and Sacramento, CA are about 1,289 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.