Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Abilene, TX
VS
Simi Valley, CA
🏆 Simi Valley 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
Simi Valley
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$112,144 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
34 ✓ Safer
Population
126,153
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Abilene, TX
Pros
Homes cost $542k less ($161,800 vs $704,200)
Rent averages $1342/mo less ($1,060 vs $2,402)
24% cheaper overall cost of living than Simi Valley
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (2.8%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.8)
Cons
Median income trails Simi Valley by $52,890/yr
Simi Valley, CA
Pros
Households earn $52,890 more per year on average
70% less violent crime than Abilene
Violent crime is well below the national average (129.1 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 36.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 59°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $704,200
Higher rents — median is $2,402/mo
Cost of living runs 24% higher than Abilene
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Abilene
Cost of Living
24% cheaper
COL index 89.8 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
Abilene
Median Home Value
$542k less
$161,800 vs $704,200
Abilene
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
2.8% vs 4.4% unemployment
Simi Valley
Median Income
$52,890
$112,144 vs $59,254/yr
Simi Valley
Violent Crime
70% lower
129.1 vs 424.5 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Abilene, TX | Simi Valley, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.8 ✓ Cheaper | 113.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $161,800 ✓ Lower | $704,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,060 ✓ Lower | $2,402⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,254 | $112,144 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.8% ✓ Lower | 4.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 15.2 min ✓ Shorter | 28.4 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.1% | 14.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 101⚠ High | 38 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 | 44 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B- (94) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.4% | 36.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% | 91.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ABILENE ISD | Simi Valley Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.8°F | 69.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 96.4°F ✓ Warmer | 95.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.4" | 17.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,356 ✓ Larger | 126,153 |
| Median Age | 32.2 | 41.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.0% | 72.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.1% ✓ More | 20.2% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 16.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Abilene's cost of living index is 89.8 vs Simi Valley's 113.5 (US average = 100).
Abilene is 24% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Simi Valley leads 14 of 23 categories. Abilene wins 9 and Simi Valley 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 Simi Valley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($161,800 vs $704,200 median home), income ($59,254 vs $112,144), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Abilene, TX and Simi Valley, CA are about 1,103 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.