Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Abilene, TX
VS
Vallejo, CA
🏆 Abilene leads 15 of 23 categories
Abilene
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,254
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
126,356 ✓ Larger
Vallejo
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
109.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,112 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
195⚠ High
Population
125,132
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Abilene, TX
Pros
Homes cost $354k less ($161,800 vs $515,500)
Rent averages $834/mo less ($1,060 vs $1,894)
43% less violent crime than Vallejo
Commutes run 22 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.2 pts lower (2.8%)
19% cheaper overall cost of living than Vallejo
Cons
Median income trails Vallejo by $26,858/yr
Vallejo, CA
Pros
Households earn $26,858 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 96°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $515,500
Higher rents — median is $1,894/mo
Violent crime (739.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 19% higher than Abilene
Key Differences at a Glance
Abilene
Cost of Living
19% cheaper
COL index 89.8 vs 109.2 (100 = US avg)
Abilene
Violent Crime
43% lower
424.5 vs 739.8 per 100k
Abilene
Median Home Value
$354k less
$161,800 vs $515,500
Abilene
Unemployment
4.2 pp lower
2.8% vs 7.0% unemployment
Abilene
Summer Heat
11.0°F warmer
July avg high 96.4°F vs 85.4°F
Vallejo
Median Income
$26,858
$86,112 vs $59,254/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Abilene, TX | Vallejo, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.8 ✓ Cheaper | 109.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $161,800 ✓ Lower | $515,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,060 ✓ Lower | $1,894⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,254 | $86,112 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.8% ✓ Lower | 7.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 15.2 min ✓ Shorter | 36.7 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.1% | 8.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 101⚠ High ✓ Safer | 193⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer | 195⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 ✓ Safer | 190⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) ✓ Better | C (81) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.4% | 27.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% ✓ Higher | 87.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ABILENE ISD | Vallejo City Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.8°F ✓ Warmer | 57.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.4°F ✓ Warmer | 85.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.4" | 21.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,356 ✓ Larger | 125,132 |
| Median Age | 32.2 | 40.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.0% | 58.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.1% ✓ More | 20.3% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 17.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Abilene's cost of living index is 89.8 vs Vallejo's 109.2 (US average = 100).
Abilene is 19% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Abilene leads 15 of 23 categories. Abilene wins 15 and Vallejo wins 8. 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 Vallejo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($161,800 vs $515,500 median home), income ($59,254 vs $86,112), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Abilene, TX and Vallejo, CA are about 1,325 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.