Abilene TX vs Bloomington MN — Cost of Living, Crime & Income Comparison 2026

Updated May 2026 · Source: US Census ACS 5-Year (2023), FBI CDE (2023), BLS OEWS (2024)

Abilene, TX

Texas · Population: 127,130

  • Median HH Income$62,720
  • Median Home Price$214,916
  • Unemployment2.7%
  • Bachelor's+27.1%

Bloomington, MN

Minnesota · Population: 71,261

  • Median HH Income$103,382
  • Median Home Price$366,438
  • Unemployment4.5%
  • Bachelor's+36.1%

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population
Abilene
127,130
Abilene +
Bloomington
71,261
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Abilene
N/A
Bloomington
N/A
Median Age
Abilene
32.8
Abilene +
Bloomington
37.3
Foreign Born
Abilene
7.4%
Bloomington
14.1%
Bloomington +
White
Abilene
66.6%
Bloomington
72.7%
Bloomington +
Black
Abilene
10.3%
Abilene +
Bloomington
8.6%
Asian
Abilene
2.3%
Bloomington
9.5%
Bloomington +
Hispanic
Abilene
26.9%
Abilene +
Bloomington
5.1%
Spanish at Home
Abilene
N/A
Bloomington
N/A

Economy

Median HH Income
Abilene
$62,720
Bloomington
$103,382
Bloomington +
Per Capita Income
Abilene
$31,019
Bloomington
$44,640
Bloomington +
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Abilene
$63,758
Bloomington
$69,467
Bloomington +
Unemployment Rate
Abilene
2.7%
Abilene +
Bloomington
4.5%
Poverty Rate
Abilene
14.8%
Bloomington
6.5%
Bloomington +
Bachelor's Degree+
Abilene
27.1%
Bloomington
36.1%
Bloomington +

Housing

Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Abilene
$214,916
Abilene +
Bloomington
$366,438
Homeownership Rate
Abilene
55.6%
Bloomington
85.0%
Bloomington +

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Abilene
442
Bloomington
284
Bloomington +
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Abilene
2339
Bloomington
1992
Bloomington +

Health

Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Abilene
35.3%
Bloomington
26.8%
Bloomington +
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Abilene
11.9%
Bloomington
8.9%
Bloomington +
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Abilene
18.8%
Bloomington
14.2%
Bloomington +
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Abilene
17.5%
Bloomington
8.5%
Bloomington +
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Abilene
18.0%
Bloomington
17.2%
Bloomington +
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Abilene
13.9%
Bloomington
11.4%
Bloomington +

Climate

Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Abilene
63.9°F
Bloomington
N/A
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Abilene
27.2 in
Bloomington
N/A

Air Quality

PM2.5 Annual Avg
EPA AQS (state-level est.)
Abilene
9.2 µg/m³
Bloomington
8.1 µg/m³
Bloomington +
Good Air Days
AQI ≤ 50
Abilene
55.0%
Bloomington
75.0%
Bloomington +

Commute

Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Abilene
16.5 min
Abilene +
Bloomington
27.0 min

Which City is Right for You?

Bloomington leads in median household income at $103,382, while abilene offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $214,916. On public safety, Bloomington is safer with a violent crime rate of 284 per 100,000 residents, compared to 442 in Abilene. Abilene has a lower unemployment rate at 2.7%, and Bloomington has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 8.1 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Bloomington scores better with a lower obesity rate of 26.8%.

Compare More Cities

About Abilene & Bloomington