Abilene or San Angelo? - I Have 3 Days To Choose (San Antonio: apartments, rental)

[cdc1211]

I will be transferring with my job in 6 weeks, and have been given the choice of Abilene or San Angelo. I need to give my decision on Tuesday.

I know a lot about both places, but am still torn which one to choose. I am looking for any insight that I might have missed that would maybe help me choose.

Here is what I see in each city as positive differences:

Abilene
More retail and restaurant choices
More things to do - museums, zoo, theaters
Easy interstate access
Appears to be adding more businesses where as San Angelo seems to have lost some.

San Angelo
Somewhat cheaper and more plentiful rental options
Somewhat better climate
More relaxed
Better walking/biking trail and lakes
I know the city better; been there more often


So here are a few questions. Does one city seem friendlier or more welcoming to an outsider? I know both cities have colleges. Do either feel like more of a "college town" like say College Station? (this is something I don't want) Which city seems to have a brighter future?

I believe I would be happy in both, but have to choose.

[catman]

I've been to Abilene several times, but not to San Angelo yet. What is better about the latter's climate? I'm not saying it isn't better, just wondering. "Better" in a matter of opinion anyway.

[Cathy4017]

Yes, "better" is a matter of opinion.

Abilene, being farther east is more humid than San Angelo. I prefer San Angelo to Abilene for that reason. Having said that, I wouldn't mind living in either city if I had to.

Abilene does have the advantage of the interstate, though, where San Angelo is more isolated.

The OP has some thinking to do!

[Canine*Castle]

According to Sperling's web site, they both have a comparable comfort index, 29 for San Angelo, 28 for Abilene. That is not enough to make one really more comfortable than the other. Of course, that's just my opinion.

[Westerner92]

Originally Posted by Canine*Castle

According to Sperling's web site, they both have a comparable comfort index, 29 for San Angelo, 28 for Abilene. That is not enough to make one really more comfortable than the other. Of course, that's just my opinion.

I would assume that he's referring to the fact that San Angelo has slightly warmer winters and is less prone to severe weather.

It's a stretch to say that either feels like a college town. Abilene has about 9,000 students as opposed to San Angelo's 6,000, so I would say there's not much of a difference in that regard.

To me, San Angelo feels cleaner and less gritty overall than Abilene.

[cdc1211]

As far as the whole climate issue, the somewhat lower humidity was one factor. But once it hits the upper 90s or hotter, you might as well just say its hot in my opinion.

Another thing, and maybe the statistics are overduing this:

On city-data, it says that the average torando actiivity is 5% above the national average in San Angelo, but Abilene is 118% above the national average. I know the odds of having a direct hit by a tornado are quite rare, but do these numbers indicate that Abilene has a much greater amount of severe storms in general? It is hard to believe that things would vary that much 90 miles apart.

I am nervous about having to look for an apartment in July, because you would expect to be in the company of many college students looking for apartments too. I have learned that the newspapers are not good sources in these cities for apartment listings, at least not their websites. You really need to contact the properties it seems. A publication called "The Renter" has proven very helpful in San Angelo. Any thought on which city might have more vacancies would be appreciated?

[Canine*Castle]

Originally Posted by Westerner92

I would assume that he's referring to the fact that San Angelo has slightly warmer winters and is less prone to severe weather.

It's a stretch to say that either feels like a college town. Abilene has about 9,000 students as opposed to San Angelo's 6,000, so I would say there's not much of a difference in that regard.

To me, San Angelo feels cleaner and less gritty overall than Abilene.

If I understand your comment correctly, my response is this. No, the comfort index doesn't have anything to do with the winters. It uses a combination of afternoon summer temperature and humidity to predict the effect the humidity will have on people. Of course, we all know the heat and humidity is what is bothersome. Not too many people complain about the humidity in the cooler weather. Severe weather doesn't really have a bearing on the comfort index either.

[cdc1211]

Personally, I think the "comfort index" is a useless number to go by. We all have different comfort levels, and if it only applies to the summer, then it means nothing for the other 9 months.

When I said San Angelo had somewhat better climate, I was not going by the comfort index, but rather lower average relative humidity and the stats I mentioned about severe weather from city-data.

Honestly, both cities are huge improvements in terms of winter weather, humidity levels, and fewer rainy days compared to what I have now.

[Westerner92]

Originally Posted by Canine*Castle

If I understand your comment correctly, my response is this. No, the comfort index doesn't have anything to do with the winters. It uses a combination of afternoon summer temperature and humidity to predict the effect the humidity will have on people. Of course, we all know the heat and humidity is what is bothersome. Not too many people complain about the humidity in the cooler weather. Severe weather doesn't really have a bearing on the comfort index either.

You didn't really understand my comment. You have brought up the comfort index thing before, so I knew it was referring to summer weather. Let me rephrase: "Their summers are pretty much the same, so I would assume the OP is referring to San Angelo having slightly warmer winters and being less prone to severe weather."

[TT Dave]

Originally Posted by cdc1211

On city-data, it says that the average torando actiivity is 5% above the national average in San Angelo, but Abilene is 118% above the national average. I know the odds of having a direct hit by a tornado are quite rare, but do these numbers indicate that Abilene has a much greater amount of severe storms in general? It is hard to believe that things would vary that much 90 miles apart.

I am nervous about having to look for an apartment in July, because you would expect to be in the company of many college students looking for apartments too. I have learned that the newspapers are not good sources in these cities for apartment listings, at least not their websites. You really need to contact the properties it seems. A publication called "The Renter" has proven very helpful in San Angelo. Any thought on which city might have more vacancies would be appreciated?

That's interesting on the tornado data. I have lived here in Abilene for a long time and I also lived in San Angelo for a while, back in the 90's. The weather in both cities seems to be fairly equal in regards to severe storms and tornados. Like you said, the cities are only 90 miles apart. It does, however, seem to be slightly more humid in Abilene. As stated above, there are a few differences between the cities (slightly more things to do in Abilene but better outdoor activities in San Angelo). Abilene is closer to the DFW metroplex but San Angelo seems to be a little closer to Austin and San Antonio. I guess it just depends on what is more important to you. As far as summer apartment vacancies goes, the two cities will probably be similar in that regard. Good luck with your decision!