Abilene 75 Excellent
Abilene Livability #62 ranked city in Kansas#3,932 ranked city in the USARanks better than 86% of areas
Is This the Right Place for You? Local Insights Report
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Local Insights Report

Pros and Cons of Living in Abilene

PROS
  • Cost Of Living Cost Of Living

    The overall cost of living in this area is much lower than average. This includes everyday goods and services, as well as housing, utilities and health care.

  • Housing Housing

    This area has received high scores in the housing category. This could be due to a positive home affordability ratio, high appreciation rates or elevated home values.

  • Health & Safety Health & Safety

    A high score in the health and safety category is a result of good air quality and the accessibility to health facilities such as hospitals, clinics, doctors, pharmacies and fire stations.

  • Ratings Ratings

    Local residents have positive things to say about the proximity of restaurants, grocery stores, parks, public transit, friendliness of neighbors, sense of community and overall safety of the area.

CONS
  • Amenities Amenities

    A majority of amenities are not ideally situated within a reasonable walking distance, which may lead residents to rely on a vehicle or public transportation.

  • Commute Commute

    Public transportation is not readily available in this area and the average commute time to work could also be longer than the national average.

What's it like Living in Abilene?

Located in the state of Kansas, Abilene is a small-sized city with a population of 6,394 people. At 95%, the majority of the Abilene population is White; this is followed by 2% Black and 1% American Indian and Alaskan. If you prefer shorter commutes, living in Abilene will be a delight. With an average one-way commute time of just 15 minutes, traveling to and from work is notably more convenient than the national average, which stands at 26 minutes.

Are you trying to ascertain if living in Abilene is the right fit for your lifestyle? To ensure a good experience before moving to any new city in Kansas, you will probably want to make sure that you check all of the most important boxes. Several key factors deserve attention. For one, safety is paramount, ensuring that your new area is low in crime is key. Proximity to workplaces or schools minimizes commute times and fosters convenience. Access to essential amenities like parks, grocery stores, food, fitness, shops and healthcare facilities enhances daily life. Efficient public transportation options provide mobility and connectivity. The sense of community creates a welcoming and supportive environment. Lastly, the overall atmosphere, encompassing the vibe, aesthetics, and lifestyle offerings, contributes to a fulfilling living experience. Considering these elements helps identify the ideal neighborhood for your needs and preferences. With useful information like amenities, cost of living, commute and other key data points, finding the best places to live in Abilene and in the areas around Abilene is a much easier task.

With a livability score of 76/100, Abilene is ranked #3,265 in the United States and #39 in Kansas. Pack your bags! This is a very high score in comparison to other US cities. Living in Abilene could be a great choice! If we explore each of the categories individually, we see that Abilene ranks well for crime (B+), cost of living (A+) and housing (B+). The bad news for Abilene, there are some categories for which it does not score well, this includes: amenities (F).

The unemployment rate in Abilene has consistently declined over the years and currently stands well below the national average at 1.3%. This downward trend holds the potential to reduce poverty and inequality within the region, promote higher wage levels and stimulate greater economic growth. Such positive indicators signal the overall robust health of the local economy, offering a promising outlook for its residents and fostering an environment of financial well-being and prosperity.

A robust real estate market serves as a crucial economic indicator, reflecting the local area's strength, stability and the confidence of its residents. Abilene excels in the housing sector, scoring high marks based on factors such as median home and rental prices, appreciation rates and home affordability. These calculations suggest that the apartment rental and real estate market in the region is exceptionally healthy, highlighting the area's economic vitality and attractiveness to potential homebuyers and renters.

Assuming that Abilene meets all of your requirements like low crime rates, good schools and great local amenities, the next most important item to examine is the affordability of real estate in Abilene. Everything else becomes a lot less important if it turns out that home prices in Abilene are simply unattainable. The median home price for Abilene homes is $199,718, which is 19% lower than the Kansas average. If we take a closer look at the affordability of homes in Abilene, we’ll see that the home price to income ratio is 2.8, which is 6.7% lower than the Kansas average.

Best Places to Live in and Around Abilene

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Compare Abilene, KS Livability

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      Abilene transportation information

      Statistic Abilene Kansas National
      Average one way commute15min19min26min
      Workers who drive to work72.7%82.2%76.4%
      Workers who carpool14.3%9.3%9.3%
      Workers who take public transit1.2%0.5%5.1%
      Workers who bicycle0.0%0.3%0.6%
      Workers who walk3.3%2.4%2.8%
      Working from home5.8%4.2%4.6%
      Source: The Abilene, KS data and statistics displayed above are derived from the United States Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) and include 2026 modeled data developed using proprietary methodologies.