Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Abilene, TX
VS
Sunnyvale, CA
🏆 Sunnyvale 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
Sunnyvale
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$174,506 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
64 ✓ Safer
Population
154,573 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Abilene, TX
Pros
Homes cost $1519k less ($161,800 vs $1,680,700)
Rent averages $1930/mo less ($1,060 vs $2,990)
23% cheaper overall cost of living than Sunnyvale
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (2.8%)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.8)
Cons
Median income trails Sunnyvale by $115,252/yr
Sunnyvale, CA
Pros
Households earn $115,252 more per year on average
42% less violent crime than Abilene
More college-educated — 68.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (244.5 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 96°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,680,700
Higher rents — median is $2,990/mo
Cost of living runs 23% higher than Abilene
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.9)
Key Differences at a Glance
Abilene
Cost of Living
23% cheaper
COL index 89.8 vs 112.9 (100 = US avg)
Abilene
Median Home Value
$1519k less
$161,800 vs $1,680,700
Abilene
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
2.8% vs 4.1% unemployment
Abilene
Summer Heat
19.5°F warmer
July avg high 96.4°F vs 76.9°F
Sunnyvale
Median Income
$115,252
$174,506 vs $59,254/yr
Sunnyvale
Violent Crime
42% lower
244.5 vs 424.5 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Abilene, TX | Sunnyvale, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.8 ✓ Cheaper | 112.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $161,800 ✓ Lower | $1,680,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,060 ✓ Lower | $2,990⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,254 | $174,506 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.8% ✓ Lower | 4.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 15.2 min ✓ Shorter | 23.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.1% | 24.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 101⚠ High | 75 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High | 64 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 ✓ Safer | 91 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | A- (112) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.4% | 68.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% | 94.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ABILENE ISD | Cupertino Union |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.8°F | 59.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 96.4°F ✓ Warmer | 76.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.4" | 13.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,356 | 154,573 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.2 | 35.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.0% ✓ Higher | 44.4% |
| Under 18 | 23.1% ✓ More | 19.9% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% ✓ More | 12.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Abilene's cost of living index is 89.8 vs Sunnyvale's 112.9 (US average = 100).
Abilene is 23% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sunnyvale leads 12 of 23 categories. Abilene wins 11 and Sunnyvale 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 Sunnyvale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($161,800 vs $1,680,700 median home), income ($59,254 vs $174,506), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Abilene, TX and Sunnyvale, CA are about 1,304 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.