Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Abilene, TX
VS
Scottsdale, AZ
🏆 Scottsdale leads 15 of 23 categories
Abilene
Texas
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,254
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High
Population
126,356
Scottsdale
Arizona
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$104,197 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
40 ✓ Safer
Population
240,537 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Abilene, TX
Pros
Homes cost $490k less ($161,800 vs $651,800)
Rent averages $708/mo less ($1,060 vs $1,768)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Scottsdale
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (2.8%)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.8)
Cons
Median income trails Scottsdale by $44,943/yr
Scottsdale, AZ
Pros
Households earn $44,943 more per year on average
64% less violent crime than Abilene
More college-educated — 61.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (152.5 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $651,800
Higher rents — median is $1,768/mo
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Abilene
Hot summers — July highs average 99°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Abilene
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 89.8 vs 104.0 (100 = US avg)
Abilene
Median Home Value
$490k less
$161,800 vs $651,800
Abilene
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
2.8% vs 3.5% unemployment
Scottsdale
Median Income
$44,943
$104,197 vs $59,254/yr
Scottsdale
Violent Crime
64% lower
152.5 vs 424.5 per 100k
Scottsdale
Summer Heat
3.0°F warmer
July avg high 99.4°F vs 96.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Abilene, TX | Scottsdale, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.8 ✓ Cheaper | 104.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $161,800 ✓ Lower | $651,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,060 ✓ Lower | $1,768⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,254 | $104,197 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.8% ✓ Lower | 3.5% |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 15.2 min ✓ Shorter | 21.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.1% | 26.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 101⚠ High | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High | 40 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 ✓ Safer | 89 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | A- (116) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.4% | 61.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% | 97.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ABILENE ISD | Scottsdale Unified District (4240) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.8°F | 63.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 96.4°F | 99.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.4" | 11.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,356 | 240,537 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.2 | 48.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.0% | 67.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.1% ✓ More | 14.3% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 25.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Abilene's cost of living index is 89.8 vs Scottsdale's 104.0 (US average = 100).
Abilene is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Scottsdale leads 15 of 23 categories. Abilene wins 8 and Scottsdale wins 15. 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 Scottsdale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($161,800 vs $651,800 median home), income ($59,254 vs $104,197), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Abilene, TX and Scottsdale, AZ are about 707 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.