Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Abilene, TX
VS
Washington, DC
🏆 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
Washington
District of Columbia
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$101,722 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
244⚠ High
Population
670,587 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Abilene, TX
Pros
Homes cost $543k less ($161,800 vs $705,000)
Rent averages $757/mo less ($1,060 vs $1,817)
54% less violent crime than Washington
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.3 pts lower (2.8%)
Commutes run 15 min shorter each way
19% cheaper overall cost of living than Washington
Cons
Median income trails Washington by $42,468/yr
Washington, DC
Pros
Households earn $42,468 more per year on average
More college-educated — 62.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 90°F vs 96°F
Smaller class sizes — 10.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $705,000
Higher rents — median is $1,817/mo
Violent crime (925.9/100k) 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 108.6 (100 = US avg)
Abilene
Violent Crime
54% lower
424.5 vs 925.9 per 100k
Abilene
Median Home Value
$543k less
$161,800 vs $705,000
Abilene
Unemployment
4.3 pp lower
2.8% vs 7.1% unemployment
Abilene
Summer Heat
6.6°F warmer
July avg high 96.4°F vs 89.8°F
Washington
Median Income
$42,468
$101,722 vs $59,254/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Abilene, TX | Washington, DC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.8 ✓ Cheaper | 108.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $161,800 ✓ Lower | $705,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,060 ✓ Lower | $1,817⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,254 | $101,722 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.8% ✓ Lower | 7.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 15.2 min ✓ Shorter | 30.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.1% | 25.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 101⚠ High ✓ Safer | 215⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer | 244⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 ✓ Safer | 171⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | A (119) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 | 10.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.4% | 62.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% | 92.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ABILENE ISD | District of Columbia Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.8°F ✓ Warmer | 44.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.4°F ✓ Warmer | 89.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.4" ✓ Drier | 45.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.7" ✓ Less | 9.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,356 | 670,587 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.2 | 34.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.0% ✓ Higher | 41.4% |
| Under 18 | 23.1% ✓ More | 18.5% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% ✓ More | 12.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Abilene's cost of living index is 89.8 vs Washington's 108.6 (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 Washington 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 Washington or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($161,800 vs $705,000 median home), income ($59,254 vs $101,722), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Abilene, TX and Washington, DC are about 1,347 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.