Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Albany, NY
VS
Amarillo, TX
🏆 Amarillo leads 18 of 23 categories
Albany
New York
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6
Median Household Income
$54,736
Violent Crime Index
215⚠ High
Population
99,692
Amarillo
Texas
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,628 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
182⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
200,360 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Albany, NY
Pros
More college-educated — 43.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 92°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (816.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2848.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.0% vs 3.5%)
Median income trails Amarillo by $5,892/yr
Amarillo, TX
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.5 pts lower (3.5%)
15% less violent crime than Albany
Homes cost $41k less ($172,700 vs $213,400)
Rent averages $133/mo less ($997 vs $1,130)
Milder winters — January highs near 51°F vs 33°F
Households earn $5,892 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (690.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2655.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Amarillo
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 97.6 (100 = US avg)
Amarillo
Median Income
$5,892
$60,628 vs $54,736/yr
Amarillo
Violent Crime
15% lower
690.5 vs 816.9 per 100k
Amarillo
Median Home Value
$41k less
$172,700 vs $213,400
Amarillo
Unemployment
4.5 pp lower
3.5% vs 8.0% unemployment
Amarillo
Summer Heat
8.1°F warmer
July avg high 92.0°F vs 83.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Albany, NY | Amarillo, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $213,400 | $172,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,130 | $997 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,736 | $60,628 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.0%⚠ High | 3.5% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min | 18.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.1% ✓ Higher | 4.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 183⚠ High | 160⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 215⚠ High | 182⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | B- (92) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 43.0% ✓ Higher | 25.2% |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% ✓ Higher | 86.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALBANY CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | AMARILLO ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.8°F | 50.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.9°F | 92.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.1" | 19.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 56.2" | 17.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,692 | 200,360 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.0 | 34.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 36.7% | 59.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 15.1% | 26.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.7% | 14.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Albany's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Amarillo's 90.8 (US average = 100).
Amarillo is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Amarillo leads 18 of 23 categories. Albany wins 5 and Amarillo wins 18. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Albany to Amarillo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($213,400 vs $172,700 median home), income ($54,736 vs $60,628), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Albany, NY and Amarillo, TX are about 1,584 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.