Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Abilene, TX
VS
Westminster, CO
🏆 Abilene leads 13 of 23 categories
Abilene
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,254
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High
Population
126,356 ✓ Larger
Westminster
Colorado
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$90,651 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
80 ✓ Safer
Population
115,502
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Abilene, TX
Pros
Homes cost $305k less ($161,800 vs $467,200)
Rent averages $672/mo less ($1,060 vs $1,732)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Westminster
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (2.8%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.8)
Cons
Median income trails Westminster by $31,397/yr
Westminster, CO
Pros
Households earn $31,397 more per year on average
28% less violent crime than Abilene
More college-educated — 42.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 91°F vs 96°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $467,200
Higher rents — median is $1,732/mo
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Abilene
Property crime (3540.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Abilene
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 89.8 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Abilene
Median Home Value
$305k less
$161,800 vs $467,200
Abilene
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
2.8% vs 4.1% unemployment
Abilene
Summer Heat
5.3°F warmer
July avg high 96.4°F vs 91.1°F
Westminster
Median Income
$31,397
$90,651 vs $59,254/yr
Westminster
Violent Crime
28% lower
303.6 vs 424.5 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Abilene, TX | Westminster, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.8 ✓ Cheaper | 105.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $161,800 ✓ Lower | $467,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,060 ✓ Lower | $1,732⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,254 | $90,651 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.8% ✓ Lower | 4.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 15.2 min ✓ Shorter | 26.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.1% | 15.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 101⚠ High ✓ Safer | 115⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High | 80 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 ✓ Safer | 169⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B- (95) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.4% | 42.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% | 92.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ABILENE ISD | Westminster Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.8°F ✓ Warmer | 48.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.4°F ✓ Warmer | 91.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.4" | 17.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.7" ✓ Less | 54.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,356 ✓ Larger | 115,502 |
| Median Age | 32.2 | 37.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.0% | 63.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.1% ✓ More | 19.6% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 14.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Abilene's cost of living index is 89.8 vs Westminster's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Abilene is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Abilene leads 13 of 23 categories. Abilene wins 13 and Westminster wins 10. 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 Westminster or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($161,800 vs $467,200 median home), income ($59,254 vs $90,651), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Abilene, TX and Westminster, CO are about 593 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.