Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Amarillo, TX
VS
Billings, MT
🏆 Amarillo leads 12 of 23 categories
Amarillo
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8
Median Household Income
$60,628
Violent Crime Index
182⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
200,360 ✓ Larger
Billings
Montana
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$69,692 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
196⚠ High
Population
117,093
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Amarillo, TX
Pros
Homes cost $113k less ($172,700 vs $285,300)
7% less violent crime than Billings
Milder winters — January highs near 51°F vs 36°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
Smaller class sizes — 14.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (690.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Billings by $9,064/yr
Property crime (2655.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Billings, MT
Pros
Households earn $9,064 more per year on average
More college-educated — 37.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.6)
Cons
Violent crime (746.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3083.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 57" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Amarillo
Violent Crime
7% lower
690.5 vs 746.1 per 100k
Amarillo
Median Home Value
$113k less
$172,700 vs $285,300
Amarillo
Summer Heat
4.7°F warmer
July avg high 92.0°F vs 87.3°F
Billings
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 89.6 vs 90.8 (100 = US avg)
Billings
Median Income
$9,064
$69,692 vs $60,628/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Amarillo, TX | Billings, MT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.8 | 89.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $172,700 ✓ Lower | $285,300 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $997 ✓ Lower | $1,064 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,628 | $69,692 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.5% ✓ Lower | 3.6% |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.5 min | 17.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% | 6.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 160⚠ High ✓ Safer | 177⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 182⚠ High ✓ Safer | 196⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer | 147⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B- (94) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.2% | 37.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.1% | 95.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | AMARILLO ISD | Elder Grove Elem |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.7°F ✓ Warmer | 36.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F ✓ Warmer | 87.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.7" | 14.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 17.2" ✓ Less | 57.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 200,360 ✓ Larger | 117,093 |
| Median Age | 34.4 | 37.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.6% | 64.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 26.5% ✓ More | 22.7% |
| Over 65 | 14.5% | 18.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Amarillo's cost of living index is 90.8 vs Billings's 89.6 (US average = 100).
Billings is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Amarillo leads 12 of 23 categories. Amarillo wins 12 and Billings wins 11. 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 Billings or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($172,700 vs $285,300 median home), income ($60,628 vs $69,692), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Amarillo, TX and Billings, MT are about 812 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.