Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Abilene, TX
VS
Temecula, CA
🏆 Temecula 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
Temecula
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$111,881 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
40 ✓ Safer
Population
110,114
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Abilene, TX
Pros
Homes cost $443k less ($161,800 vs $604,300)
Rent averages $1162/mo less ($1,060 vs $2,222)
Commutes run 21 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.0 pts lower (2.8%)
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Temecula
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.8)
Cons
Median income trails Temecula by $52,627/yr
Temecula, CA
Pros
Households earn $52,627 more per year on average
64% less violent crime than Abilene
Violent crime is well below the national average (151.5 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 38.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 96°F
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 59°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $604,300
Higher rents — median is $2,222/mo
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Abilene
Higher unemployment (5.8% vs 2.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Abilene
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 89.8 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Abilene
Median Home Value
$443k less
$161,800 vs $604,300
Abilene
Unemployment
3.0 pp lower
2.8% vs 5.8% unemployment
Abilene
Summer Heat
9.2°F warmer
July avg high 96.4°F vs 87.2°F
Temecula
Median Income
$52,627
$111,881 vs $59,254/yr
Temecula
Violent Crime
64% lower
151.5 vs 424.5 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Abilene, TX | Temecula, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.8 ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $161,800 ✓ Lower | $604,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,060 ✓ Lower | $2,222⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,254 | $111,881 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.8% ✓ Lower | 5.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 15.2 min ✓ Shorter | 36.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.1% | 14.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 101⚠ High | 56 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High | 40 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 | 80 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B (97) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.4% | 38.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% | 93.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ABILENE ISD | Temecula Valley Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.8°F | 67.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 96.4°F ✓ Warmer | 87.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.4" | 15.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.7" | 0.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,356 ✓ Larger | 110,114 |
| Median Age | 32.2 | 36.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.0% | 68.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.1% | 27.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.5% ✓ More | 11.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Abilene's cost of living index is 89.8 vs Temecula's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Abilene is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Temecula leads 14 of 23 categories. Abilene wins 9 and Temecula 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 Temecula or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($161,800 vs $604,300 median home), income ($59,254 vs $111,881), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Abilene, TX and Temecula, CA are about 1,010 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.