Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Abilene, TX
VS
Waterbury, CT
🏆 Abilene leads 19 of 23 categories
Abilene
Texas
19
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,254 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High
Population
126,356 ✓ Larger
Waterbury
Connecticut
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.1
Median Household Income
$51,451
Violent Crime Index
85 ✓ Safer
Population
114,480
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Abilene, TX
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 7.0 pts lower (2.8%)
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
Households earn $7,803 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 37°F
More college-educated — 26.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.8)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Waterbury, CT
Pros
24% less violent crime than Abilene
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 96°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Abilene by $7,803/yr
Property crime (2918.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (9.8% vs 2.8%)
Snowy winters — about 47" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Abilene
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 89.8 vs 95.1 (100 = US avg)
Abilene
Median Income
$7,803
$59,254 vs $51,451/yr
Abilene
Unemployment
7.0 pp lower
2.8% vs 9.8% unemployment
Abilene
Summer Heat
12.4°F warmer
July avg high 96.4°F vs 84.0°F
Waterbury
Violent Crime
24% lower
322.5 vs 424.5 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Abilene, TX | Waterbury, CT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.8 ✓ Cheaper | 95.1 |
| Median Home Value | $161,800 ✓ Lower | $162,800 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,060 ✓ Lower | $1,140 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,254 ✓ Higher | $51,451 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.8% ✓ Lower | 9.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 15.2 min ✓ Shorter | 27.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.1% ✓ Higher | 6.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 101⚠ High ✓ Safer | 107⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High | 85 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) ✓ Better | B- (91) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 | 12.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.4% ✓ Higher | 16.7% |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% ✓ Higher | 81.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ABILENE ISD | Waterbury School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.8°F ✓ Warmer | 37.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.4°F ✓ Warmer | 84.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.4" ✓ Drier | 52.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.7" ✓ Less | 46.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,356 ✓ Larger | 114,480 |
| Median Age | 32.2 | 36.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.0% ✓ Higher | 43.8% |
| Under 18 | 23.1% ✓ More | 22.7% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 13.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Abilene's cost of living index is 89.8 vs Waterbury's 95.1 (US average = 100).
Abilene is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Abilene leads 19 of 23 categories. Abilene wins 19 and Waterbury wins 4. 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 Waterbury or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($161,800 vs $162,800 median home), income ($59,254 vs $51,451), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Abilene, TX and Waterbury, CT are about 1,594 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.