Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Amarillo, TX
VS
Boise City, ID
🏆 Boise City leads 14 of 23 categories
Amarillo
Texas
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,628
Violent Crime Index
182⚠ High
Population
200,360
Boise City
Idaho
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.4
Median Household Income
$76,402 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
77 ✓ Safer
Population
234,192 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Amarillo, TX
Pros
Homes cost $229k less ($172,700 vs $401,800)
Rent averages $226/mo less ($997 vs $1,223)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
Milder winters — January highs near 51°F vs 39°F
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Boise City
Cons
Violent crime (690.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Boise City by $15,774/yr
Property crime (2655.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Boise City, ID
Pros
57% less violent crime than Amarillo
Households earn $15,774 more per year on average
More college-educated — 45.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.4)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $401,800
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Amarillo
Key Differences at a Glance
Amarillo
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 93.4 (100 = US avg)
Amarillo
Median Home Value
$229k less
$172,700 vs $401,800
Boise City
Median Income
$15,774
$76,402 vs $60,628/yr
Boise City
Violent Crime
57% lower
293.8 vs 690.5 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Amarillo, TX | Boise City, ID |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper | 93.4 |
| Median Home Value | $172,700 ✓ Lower | $401,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $997 ✓ Lower | $1,223 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,628 | $76,402 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.5% ✓ Lower | 3.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.5 min ✓ Shorter | 19.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% | 14.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 160⚠ High | 68 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 182⚠ High | 77 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 53 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B+ (105) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.2% | 45.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.1% | 95.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | AMARILLO ISD | BOISE INDEPENDENT DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.7°F ✓ Warmer | 38.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F | 92.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.7" | 11.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 17.2" ✓ Less | 17.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 200,360 | 234,192 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.4 | 37.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.6% | 62.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 26.5% ✓ More | 18.9% |
| Over 65 | 14.5% | 15.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Amarillo's cost of living index is 90.8 vs Boise City's 93.4 (US average = 100).
Amarillo is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Boise City leads 14 of 23 categories. Amarillo wins 9 and Boise City wins 14. 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 Boise City or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($172,700 vs $401,800 median home), income ($60,628 vs $76,402), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Amarillo, TX and Boise City, ID are about 961 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.