Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Abilene, TX
VS
Toledo, OH
🏆 Abilene leads 17 of 23 categories
Abilene
Texas
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,254 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
126,356
Toledo
Ohio
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.4
Median Household Income
$45,405
Violent Crime Index
274⚠ High
Population
269,962 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Abilene, TX
Pros
59% less violent crime than Toledo
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.4 pts lower (2.8%)
Households earn $13,849 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 34°F
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 26.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Toledo, OH
Pros
Homes cost $63k less ($98,800 vs $161,800)
Rent averages $206/mo less ($854 vs $1,060)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.4)
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 96°F
Cons
Violent crime (1041.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Abilene by $13,849/yr
Property crime (2732.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.2% vs 2.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Abilene
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 89.8 vs 90.4 (100 = US avg)
Abilene
Median Income
$13,849
$59,254 vs $45,405/yr
Abilene
Violent Crime
59% lower
424.5 vs 1041.1 per 100k
Abilene
Unemployment
5.4 pp lower
2.8% vs 8.2% unemployment
Abilene
Summer Heat
11.8°F warmer
July avg high 96.4°F vs 84.6°F
Toledo
Median Home Value
$63k less
$98,800 vs $161,800
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Abilene, TX | Toledo, OH |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.8 ✓ Cheaper | 90.4 |
| Median Home Value | $161,800 | $98,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,060 | $854 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,254 ✓ Higher | $45,405 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.8% ✓ Lower | 8.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 15.2 min ✓ Shorter | 19.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.1% ✓ Higher | 4.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 101⚠ High ✓ Safer | 216⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer | 274⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 ✓ Safer | 130⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) ✓ Better | C+ (86) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.4% ✓ Higher | 20.2% |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% | 88.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ABILENE ISD | Toledo City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.8°F ✓ Warmer | 33.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.4°F ✓ Warmer | 84.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.4" ✓ Drier | 37.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.7" ✓ Less | 37.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,356 | 269,962 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.2 | 35.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.0% ✓ Higher | 52.4% |
| Under 18 | 23.1% ✓ More | 23.0% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 14.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Abilene's cost of living index is 89.8 vs Toledo's 90.4 (US average = 100).
Abilene is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Abilene leads 17 of 23 categories. Abilene wins 17 and Toledo wins 6. 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 Toledo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($161,800 vs $98,800 median home), income ($59,254 vs $45,405), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Abilene, TX and Toledo, OH are about 1,092 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.