Neighborhood in Abilene, Taylor County

Living in Central Abilene, Abilene

D+

6th of 6areas in Abilene
Overall score 24 of 100 vs Texas neighborhoods
Abilene overall: C

Central Abilene covers part of Abilene, TX, home to about 9,200 people. It gets a D+, in the bottom third of Texas neighborhoods, and ranks 6th of 6 areas we score in Abilene. It does best on getting around and worst on health.

  • Short commutes
  • Lots of parks
  • Jobs and income scores low (11 of 100)
  • Health scores low (9 of 100)

Closest everyday places

Grocery store0.7 mi
Pharmacy0.7 mi
Park0.5 mi
Cafe0.7 mi
Restaurant0.4 mi
Gym0.7 mi
Hospital or urgent care0.8 mi
Childcare1.0 mi
Library1.0 mi

Straight-line distance from the middle of where people live. Overture Maps.

Population
9,240
Median rent
$1,050
Median home value
$184,000
Household income
$50,400
Average commute
14 min
Homes owned
48%
Loading map

What it's like to live in Central Abilene

Central Abilene is an area in Abilene with about 9,200 residents, homes built around 1971, a mix of owners and renters and 29% of households with children.

It grades D+ against every neighborhood in Texas and ranks 6th of 6 areas in Abilene, which grades C overall.

Pros of living in Central Abilene

No clear standouts in our data.

Cons of living in Central Abilene

  • Higher poverty. 27% of residents live below the poverty line, against 16% across Abilene.
  • Higher unemployment. 6.5% of the labor force is out of work, against 3.0% across Abilene.
  • Lower-rated schools nearby. Only 2 of the 3 closest public schools are rated A or B.
  • Natural hazard risk. FEMA rates the risk of hail and winter storms as very high in this part of town.

Central Abilene report card

Each grade compares Central Abilene with every neighborhood in Texas. Safety is not graded for single neighborhoods because police report crime for the whole city.

  • Cost of living: grade C+

    Median rent $1,050, homes cost 3.7x income.

    50 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Jobs and income: grade D-

    Median household income $50,400, 6.5% unemployed.

    11 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Schools: grade D+

    Nearby schools average 76 of 100 on the state rating.

    29 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Safety: no grade

    Citywide, 457 violent crimes per 100k, 1,659 property crimes per 100k.

    No score vs TX areas

  • Errands and things to do: grade B-

    Most everyday stores and services within a mile of homes.

    57 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Getting around: grade A-

    Average commute 14 min, 6.0% work from home.

    86 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Education levels: grade C

    30% have a bachelor’s degree.

    40 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Health: grade D-

    19% of adults uninsured.

    9 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Home ownership: grade D-

    48% of homes owner-occupied.

    11 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Internet access: grade C-

    89% of homes have broadband.

    33 of 100 vs TX areas

Central Abilene compared with Abilene

Better than Abilene

  • Average commute: 14 min10% lower than Abilene (16 min)
  • Median rent: $1,0509% lower than Abilene ($1,157)
  • Adults with a bachelor's degree or higher: 30%3 points higher than Abilene (27%)

Worse than Abilene

  • Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent: 64%12 points higher than Abilene (53%)
  • People below the poverty line: 27%11 points higher than Abilene (16%)
  • Home value to income: 3.7x25% higher than Abilene (2.9x)

Closest public schools

Texas Education Agency 2025 ratings. Check the attendance zone for any address with the district.

  • CTaylor ElementaryElementary, Abilene ISD0.5 mi
  • BCraig MiddleMiddle, Abilene ISD1.9 mi
  • BAbilene High SchoolHigh, Abilene ISD3.7 mi

Cost of living in Central Abilene

Median rent in Central Abilene is $1,050 a month, 9% lower than the Abilene median. A household would need about $42,000 a year to keep that rent at 30% of income.

The median home is worth $184,000, about the same as the Abilene median, which means a monthly payment of about $1,257 with property tax at today's mortgage rates.

MeasureHereAbileneTexas
Median rent9% lower than Abilene$1,050$1,157$1,403
Median home valueAbout the same as Abilene$184,000$183,700$283,800
Home value to income25% higher than Abilene3.7x2.9x3.6x
Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent12 points higher than Abilene64%53%52%
Homes owned by the people living in them8 points lower than Abilene48%56%63%
Vacant homes5 points higher than Abilene17%12%9.4%
Median year homes were builtAbout the same as Abilene197119751992

Monthly cost to buy a median home

$1,257
Mortgage payment
$1,007
Property tax
$250
Median rent, for comparison
$1,050

Based on a $184,000 home in Central Abilene, 20% down and a 30-year loan at 7.28% (Freddie Mac average, week of 2026-10-01). Property tax is the median for the surrounding Census tract, or the county where that is not published. Insurance and fees are not included.

Work, income and getting around

MeasureHereAbileneTexas
Median household income20% lower than Abilene$50,400$62,648$78,476
Unemployment rate3 points higher than Abilene6.5%3.0%5.3%
People below the poverty line11 points higher than Abilene27%16%14%
Adults with a bachelor's degree or higher3 points higher than Abilene30%27%34%
Average commute10% lower than Abilene14 min16 min27 min
Workers who work from home2 points lower than Abilene6.0%8.4%14%
Workers who walk, bike or take transit2 points lower than Abilene1.2%2.9%2.6%
Homes with broadband internet3 points lower than Abilene89%92%91%

Natural hazard risk

FEMA National Risk Index for the Census tracts in this area.

  • River floodingLow
  • HurricanesLow
  • TornadoesModerate
  • HailVery high
  • Heat wavesHigh
  • WildfiresHigh
  • Winter stormsVery high
  • Strong windModerate

Who lives in Central Abilene

Under 1824%
18 to 3438%
35 to 6423%
65 and over15%
Race and ethnicity
White47%
Hispanic or Latino36%
Black12%
Asian3.0%
Other or more than one race2.3%

Shown for information only. It is never part of any grade.

Other neighborhoods in Abilene

  1. 1BSouth AbileneMedian rent $1,390
  2. 2C+Southwest AbileneMedian rent $1,190
  3. 3C+East AbileneMedian rent $1,310
  4. 4CMeadows Mobile Home ParkMedian rent $1,060
  5. 5D+West AbileneMedian rent $1,170

Similar neighborhoods in other cities

Areas elsewhere in Texas with the closest mix of grades.

  1. D-Central NacogdochesNacogdoches
  2. D+Central TempleTemple
  3. DBordersvilleHouston

Questions about Central Abilene

Is Central Abilene a good place to live?

Central Abilene covers part of Abilene, TX, home to about 9,200 people. It gets a D+, in the bottom third of Texas neighborhoods, and ranks 6th of 6 areas we score in Abilene. It does best on getting around and worst on health.

How much does it cost to live in Central Abilene?

Median rent in Central Abilene is $1,050 a month, 9% lower than the Abilene median. The median home is worth $184,000, about the same as the Abilene median. A median home costs 3.7x the median household income, compared with 2.9x across Abilene.

What schools serve Central Abilene?

The closest rated public schools are Taylor Elementary (elementary, rated C), Craig Middle (middle, rated B) and Abilene High School (high, rated B). School zones can differ from the closest school, so check with the district.

This area groups 8 Census block groups in this part of Abilene that have no neighborhood name on the map. Sources: US Census Bureau 2020-2024 ACS 5-year, CDC PLACES 2025, Texas Education Agency, FEMA National Risk Index, Overture Maps. How we grade.