Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Abilene, TX
VS
Stamford, CT
🏆 Stamford leads 12 of 23 categories
Abilene
Texas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,254
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High
Population
126,356
Stamford
Connecticut
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$100,718 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
41 ✓ Safer
Population
135,413 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Abilene, TX
Pros
Homes cost $423k less ($161,800 vs $584,700)
Rent averages $1069/mo less ($1,060 vs $2,129)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.7 pts lower (2.8%)
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Stamford
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 38°F
Cons
Median income trails Stamford by $41,464/yr
Stamford, CT
Pros
Households earn $41,464 more per year on average
63% less violent crime than Abilene
Violent crime is well below the national average (157.5 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 50.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 96°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $584,700
Higher rents — median is $2,129/mo
Cost of living runs 17% higher than Abilene
Higher unemployment (5.5% vs 2.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Abilene
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 89.8 vs 106.5 (100 = US avg)
Abilene
Median Home Value
$423k less
$161,800 vs $584,700
Abilene
Unemployment
2.7 pp lower
2.8% vs 5.5% unemployment
Abilene
Summer Heat
11.6°F warmer
July avg high 96.4°F vs 84.8°F
Stamford
Median Income
$41,464
$100,718 vs $59,254/yr
Stamford
Violent Crime
63% lower
157.5 vs 424.5 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Abilene, TX | Stamford, CT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.8 ✓ Cheaper | 106.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $161,800 ✓ Lower | $584,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,060 ✓ Lower | $2,129⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,254 | $100,718 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.8% ✓ Lower | 5.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 15.2 min ✓ Shorter | 27.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.1% | 14.1% ✓ 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 | 41 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 | 58 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | A (120) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 | 12.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.4% | 50.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% | 88.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ABILENE ISD | Stamford School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.8°F ✓ Warmer | 38.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.4°F ✓ Warmer | 84.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.4" ✓ Drier | 50.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.7" ✓ Less | 34.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,356 | 135,413 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.2 | 37.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.0% ✓ Higher | 46.0% |
| Under 18 | 23.1% ✓ More | 19.2% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 15.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Abilene's cost of living index is 89.8 vs Stamford's 106.5 (US average = 100).
Abilene is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Stamford leads 12 of 23 categories. Abilene wins 11 and Stamford wins 12. 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 Stamford or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($161,800 vs $584,700 median home), income ($59,254 vs $100,718), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Abilene, TX and Stamford, CT are about 1,560 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.