Uprootmap
Waco vs Abilene
Waco and Abilene
Photo: Michael Barera / Wikimedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
Assumed income $83,730, same in both cities. Example, until you change it.
Other cities
So you know: homicide deaths in Abilene are under the US rate in this release, 5.7 versus 6.5 per 100,000. CDC via County Health Rankings, CDC NVSS 2017–2023 (CHR 2025 release).
Why people look at Waco to Abilene
In 2022-2023, 25 households filed a move from Waco to Abilene (about 41 people, average adjusted gross income $36,600). 30 households went the other way. Source: IRS migration.
A one-bedroom asking rent is about $1,108 in Waco and $1,421 in Abilene. Waco has no state tax on wages. Abilene has no state tax on wages. Local pay in Abilene is 84% of the national level for the same work, against 84% in Waco.
Abilene averages 254 sunny days, with July highs around 98°F and January nights around 36°F. Waco is 221 sunny days, 95°F in July, 37°F in January. Commutes average 18 minutes in Abilene and 22 in Waco.
These figures are projections built from available public data. Conditions change, and the numbers may not reflect current prices, taxes, or immigration rules. Check official sources before you make decisions.
Who already made this move
In 2022-2023, 25 households moved Waco → Abilene (about 41 people, average AGI $36,600). 30 households went the other way.
Source: IRS SOI county-to-county migration. Not a moving company; not a recommendation.
The monthly number is take-home pay minus rent and the other bills. The gap between Waco and Abilene changes with the job, remote or local pay, and bedrooms. How we figure this.
What the move itself costs
About 185 road miles, 1 bedroom. Typical ranges, not quotes.
- Full-service mover
- $1,750–$3,250
- Container or pod
- $1,150–$2,200
- Rent a truck
- $450–$850
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Dig into Abilene
Questions
Is Abilene cheaper than Waco after tax and rent?
No. Abilene leaves about $316 less a month, so the cost of living is higher there for this household. A one-bedroom is about $1,108 in Waco and $1,421 in Abilene.
Does Abilene have state income tax?
Abilene is in Texas, which has no state income tax.
Did people actually move from Waco to Abilene?
Yes, when the IRS published that flow. The count and their average income are on this page. Leftover prices the same household in both cities.