Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Amarillo, TX
VS
Atlanta, GA
🏆 Amarillo leads 14 of 23 categories
Amarillo
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,628
Violent Crime Index
182⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
200,360
Atlanta
Georgia
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$77,655 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
221⚠ High
Population
494,838 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Amarillo, TX
Pros
Homes cost $223k less ($172,700 vs $395,600)
Rent averages $515/mo less ($997 vs $1,512)
18% less violent crime than Atlanta
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (3.5%)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Atlanta
Cons
Violent crime (690.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Atlanta by $17,027/yr
Property crime (2655.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Atlanta, GA
Pros
Households earn $17,027 more per year on average
More college-educated — 57.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 12.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $395,600
Higher rents — median is $1,512/mo
Violent crime (840.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3748.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Amarillo
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 100.9 (100 = US avg)
Amarillo
Violent Crime
18% lower
690.5 vs 840.6 per 100k
Amarillo
Median Home Value
$223k less
$172,700 vs $395,600
Amarillo
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
3.5% vs 5.8% unemployment
Atlanta
Median Income
$17,027
$77,655 vs $60,628/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Amarillo, TX | Atlanta, GA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper | 100.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $172,700 ✓ Lower | $395,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $997 ✓ Lower | $1,512⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,628 | $77,655 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.5% ✓ Lower | 5.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.5 min ✓ Shorter | 27.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% | 23.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 160⚠ High ✓ Safer | 204⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 182⚠ High ✓ Safer | 221⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer | 178⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | A (120) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 | 12.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.2% | 57.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.1% | 92.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | AMARILLO ISD | Atlanta Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.7°F | 53.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F ✓ Warmer | 90.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.7" ✓ Drier | 51.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 17.2" | 0.5" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 200,360 | 494,838 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.4 ✓ Older | 33.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.6% ✓ Higher | 45.7% |
| Under 18 | 26.5% ✓ More | 17.2% |
| Over 65 | 14.5% ✓ More | 12.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Amarillo's cost of living index is 90.8 vs Atlanta's 100.9 (US average = 100).
Amarillo is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Amarillo leads 14 of 23 categories. Amarillo wins 14 and Atlanta wins 9. 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 Amarillo to Atlanta or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($172,700 vs $395,600 median home), income ($60,628 vs $77,655), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Amarillo, TX and Atlanta, GA are about 995 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.