Athens-Clarke County unified government (balance) vs Abilene: Cost of Living (2026)

A side-by-side comparison of Athens-Clarke County unified government (balance), GA and Abilene, TX, using US Census Bureau data.

MetricAthens-Clarke County unified government (balance), GAAbilene, TX
Population126,672126,356
Median household income$47,798$59,254
Median home value$242,300$161,800
Median rent (/mo)$1,045$1,060

Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022). Highlighted cell = more affordable / higher income.

Comparing Athens-Clarke County unified government (balance), GA and Abilene, TX comes down to what you value most. Abilene has the lower median home value, and Athens-Clarke County unified government (balance) has the lower median rent.

Abilene has the higher median household income, which affects how far a paycheck stretches against local housing costs. The table below breaks down the key numbers side by side, all sourced from the US Census Bureau.

Frequently asked questions

Is it cheaper to live in Athens-Clarke County unified government (balance) or Abilene?
By median home value, Abilene is the cheaper of the two ($161,800 vs $242,300). Rent and income differ too — see the full comparison above.
Which has higher salaries, Athens-Clarke County unified government (balance) or Abilene?
Median household income is $47,798 in Athens-Clarke County unified government (balance) versus $59,254 in Abilene, per the US Census Bureau.

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