West Texas' Affordable City Combines Budget-Friendly Living With Historic Charm

The economy is foremost on many Americans' minds, with an exit poll by the Associated Press showing that it has been the main decider in off-year voting for 2025. At the state level, families continue to look for affordable places to make their homes. One state in particular has proven to have a wide range of affordability, with Texas home to two cities ranked as the best places to retire in America. However, one specific city in West Texas has proven even more affordable than these retirement meccas.

With a population of over 131,000 residents, Abilene, Texas, has proven to be a budget-friendly oasis in the heart of the state. The comfy city has a cost of living that Payscale reports is 10% lower than the national average, largely due to the relative cost of a home in Abilene, with Zillow listing the median household value at $197,688. Located far west of the state's population centers, Houston and Dallas, the city also has an interesting history, as it was originally built as a railroad town.

The city of Abilene was first established as a railroad town in the late 1800s and was founded by the T&P Railway Company. The city later experienced rapid growth in the mid- to late-1900s when oil was discovered in the western end of the Lone Star State. This history is evident in the city's downtown, with multiple brick buildings still standing where they were at Abilene's conception. One such example is the beautiful T&P Depot. While no longer welcoming locomotives, the depot has been restored to its 1920s façade.

While the oil industry has continued in West Texas, Abilene has a diverse job market outside of it, with major employers in both the education and healthcare sectors. While it can be a little opaque just how much money you should make in a year to afford a $200,000 house like those in Abilene, a somewhat low unemployment rate and median household income of over $62,000 make homeownership a viable option.

The cost of living in Abilene is even lower than that of growing towns in the south, such as Greenville, South Carolina, which is already 7% cheaper than the national average. The Texas city also has an average grocery price that is lower than national costs, adding to its affordability. This is particularly important at a time when the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows a steady rise in household food costs, with beef prices rising rapidly, not to mention a fast-approaching AI bubble.