Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Alexandria, VA
VS
Amarillo, TX
🏆 Amarillo leads 12 of 23 categories
Alexandria
Virginia
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$113,179 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
58 ✓ Safer
Population
157,594
Amarillo
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,628
Violent Crime Index
182⚠ High
Population
200,360 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Alexandria, VA
Pros
Households earn $52,551 more per year on average
68% less violent crime than Amarillo
More college-educated — 66.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (219.1 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $655,700
Higher rents — median is $1,983/mo
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Amarillo
Property crime (2640.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Amarillo, TX
Pros
Homes cost $483k less ($172,700 vs $655,700)
Rent averages $986/mo less ($997 vs $1,983)
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Alexandria
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
Milder winters — January highs near 51°F vs 45°F
Cons
Median income trails Alexandria by $52,551/yr
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
Alexandria
Median Income
$52,551
$113,179 vs $60,628/yr
Alexandria
Violent Crime
68% lower
219.1 vs 690.5 per 100k
Amarillo
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 108.6 (100 = US avg)
Amarillo
Median Home Value
$483k less
$172,700 vs $655,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Alexandria, VA | Amarillo, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.6⚠ High | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $655,700⚠ High | $172,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,983⚠ High | $997 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $113,179 ✓ Higher | $60,628 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.2% ✓ Lower | 3.5% |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.1 min⚠ High | 18.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 22.1% ✓ Higher | 4.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 ✓ Safer | 160⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 58 ✓ Safer | 182⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 126⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | B- (92) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 66.0% ✓ Higher | 25.2% |
| High School or Higher | 93.7% ✓ Higher | 86.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Alexandria City Public Schools | AMARILLO ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.8°F | 50.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F | 92.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.8" | 19.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.7" ✓ Less | 17.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 157,594 | 200,360 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 34.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.7% | 59.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.1% | 26.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 14.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Alexandria's cost of living index is 108.6 vs Amarillo's 90.8 (US average = 100).
Amarillo is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Amarillo leads 12 of 23 categories. Alexandria wins 11 and Amarillo wins 12. 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 Alexandria to Amarillo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($655,700 vs $172,700 median home), income ($113,179 vs $60,628), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Alexandria, VA and Amarillo, TX are about 1,384 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.