Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Abilene, TX
VS
St. George, UT
🏆 St. George 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 ✓ Larger
St. George
Utah
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.1
Median Household Income
$69,333 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
55 ✓ Safer
Population
96,174
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Abilene, TX
Pros
Homes cost $253k less ($161,800 vs $415,200)
Rent averages $275/mo less ($1,060 vs $1,335)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (2.8%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.8)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than St. George
Cooler summers — July highs near 96°F vs 102°F
Cons
Median income trails St. George by $10,079/yr
St. George, UT
Pros
51% less violent crime than Abilene
Violent crime is well below the national average (210.0 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $10,079 more per year on average
More college-educated — 32.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $415,200
Higher rents — median is $1,335/mo
Hot summers — July highs average 102°F
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Abilene
Key Differences at a Glance
Abilene
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 89.8 vs 96.1 (100 = US avg)
Abilene
Median Home Value
$253k less
$161,800 vs $415,200
Abilene
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
2.8% vs 3.3% unemployment
St. George
Median Income
$10,079
$69,333 vs $59,254/yr
St. George
Violent Crime
51% lower
210.0 vs 424.5 per 100k
St. George
Summer Heat
5.5°F warmer
July avg high 101.9°F vs 96.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Abilene, TX | St. George, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.8 ✓ Cheaper | 96.1 |
| Median Home Value | $161,800 ✓ Lower | $415,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,060 ✓ Lower | $1,335⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,254 | $69,333 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.8% ✓ Lower | 3.3% |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 15.2 min ✓ Shorter | 16.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.1% | 13.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 101⚠ High | 52 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High | 55 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 | 48 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 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 | 23.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.4% | 32.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% | 94.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ABILENE ISD | Washington District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.8°F ✓ Warmer | 54.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.4°F | 101.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.4" | 9.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.7" | 1.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,356 ✓ Larger | 96,174 |
| Median Age | 32.2 | 37.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.0% | 67.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.1% | 25.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 22.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Abilene's cost of living index is 89.8 vs St. George's 96.1 (US average = 100).
Abilene is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, St. George leads 15 of 23 categories. Abilene wins 8 and St. George 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 St. George or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($161,800 vs $415,200 median home), income ($59,254 vs $69,333), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Abilene, TX and St. George, UT are about 847 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.