Abilene, TX Relocation Guide (2026)
Cost of living, housing, and income data for Abilene, sourced from the US Census Bureau.
Salary needed to live in Abilene →
Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022). Last updated July 2026.
Abilene, Texas is home to roughly 126,356 residents. The typical household here earns $59,254 a year — below the median we track across cities (-18%).
Anyone weighing a move to Abilene should know the median home value is $161,800, below the multi-city median (-50%), and median rent runs $1,060 per month. Current mortgage rates and local property taxes both affect the real math of buying versus renting.
The ratio of median home value to median household income in Abilene — roughly 2.7× — signals relatively affordable housing relative to local pay. Home prices near Abilene have risen a steady 3.21% over the past year — measured growth, not a spike. FEMA's National Risk Index puts Abilene at Relatively Moderate for overall natural-hazard risk — a relatively favorable factor for insurance costs.
Personal Affordability Check
Renting at $1,060/mo in Abilene would take 21.5% of your income.
$421/mo under the 30% guideline.
Buying the median home ($161,800) would take 17.5% of your income toward principal & interest.
$519/mo under the 28% guideline.
Cost of housing in Abilene
Median home value is $161,800 and median gross rent is $1,060/month. For buyers, monthly costs depend heavily on current mortgage rates — worth checking before you commit.
FHFA's county-level home price index for Taylor rose 3.21% over the past year (as of 2025).
HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom unit in the surrounding county is $1,276/month.
Climate & home insurance
FEMA rates Abilene's overall natural-hazard risk as Relatively Moderate. Risk level is a major driver of home insurance premiums.
Safety
Abilene reported a violent crime rate of 456.6 per 100,000 residents in 2025, per FBI data.
Moving to Abilene
Planning a move to Abilene? Compare licensed movers and get quotes based on your origin and move date.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the cost of living in Abilene, TX?
- Cost of living in Abilene centers on housing: median home value runs $161,800, median rent runs $1,060/month, and the typical household earns $59,254 a year. Data via the US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022).
- How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Abilene?
- To keep rent under the commonly recommended 30% of income in Abilene, where median rent runs $1,060/month, you'd want to earn about $42,400 annually. See the full salary breakdown (renting and buying) for Abilene.
- Is it better to rent or buy in Abilene?
- Buying at Abilene's median home value of $161,800 takes about $37,019 a year in principal-and-interest income (20% down, 30-year fixed, current mortgage rates), compared with roughly $42,400 a year to comfortably rent at the median $1,060/month. Down payment and expected length of stay usually settle the question.
- Is Abilene safe?
- FBI data puts Abilene's violent crime rate at 456.6 per 100,000 residents for 2025 — a useful benchmark alongside other cities you're weighing.
See the full salary breakdown for Abilene →
Cities with a similar cost of living
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