Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Abilene, TX
VS
San Marcos, CA
🏆 San Marcos leads 14 of 23 categories
Abilene
Texas
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,254
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High
Population
126,356 ✓ Larger
San Marcos
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$99,413 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
59 ✓ Safer
Population
94,360
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Abilene, TX
Pros
Homes cost $567k less ($161,800 vs $728,800)
Rent averages $1004/mo less ($1,060 vs $2,064)
22% cheaper overall cost of living than San Marcos
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (2.8%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.8)
Cons
Median income trails San Marcos by $40,159/yr
San Marcos, CA
Pros
Households earn $40,159 more per year on average
48% less violent crime than Abilene
Violent crime is well below the national average (222.4 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 41.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 59°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 96°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $728,800
Higher rents — median is $2,064/mo
Cost of living runs 22% higher than Abilene
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Abilene
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 89.8 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
Abilene
Median Home Value
$567k less
$161,800 vs $728,800
Abilene
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
2.8% vs 4.2% unemployment
Abilene
Summer Heat
9.2°F warmer
July avg high 96.4°F vs 87.2°F
San Marcos
Median Income
$40,159
$99,413 vs $59,254/yr
San Marcos
Violent Crime
48% lower
222.4 vs 424.5 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Abilene, TX | San Marcos, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.8 ✓ Cheaper | 111.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $161,800 ✓ Lower | $728,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,060 ✓ Lower | $2,064⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,254 | $99,413 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.8% ✓ Lower | 4.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 15.2 min ✓ Shorter | 26.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.1% | 16.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 101⚠ High | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High | 59 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 | 31 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B (100) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.4% | 41.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% | 87.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ABILENE ISD | San Marcos Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.8°F | 68.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 96.4°F ✓ Warmer | 87.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.4" | 13.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,356 ✓ Larger | 94,360 |
| Median Age | 32.2 | 35.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.0% | 61.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.1% | 25.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.5% ✓ More | 13.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Abilene's cost of living index is 89.8 vs San Marcos's 111.5 (US average = 100).
Abilene is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, San Marcos leads 14 of 23 categories. Abilene wins 9 and San Marcos wins 14. 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 San Marcos or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($161,800 vs $728,800 median home), income ($59,254 vs $99,413), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Abilene, TX and San Marcos, CA are about 1,012 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.