Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Amarillo, TX
VS
Buckeye, AZ
🏆 Buckeye leads 13 of 23 categories
Amarillo
Texas
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,628
Violent Crime Index
182⚠ High
Population
200,360 ✓ Larger
Buckeye
Arizona
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.0
Median Household Income
$94,188 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
44 ✓ Safer
Population
95,042
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Amarillo, TX
Pros
Homes cost $169k less ($172,700 vs $341,700)
Rent averages $600/mo less ($997 vs $1,597)
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (3.5%)
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Buckeye
Cooler summers — July highs near 92°F vs 107°F
Cons
Median income trails Buckeye by $33,560/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
Buckeye, AZ
Pros
76% less violent crime than Amarillo
Households earn $33,560 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (166.8 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 51°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $341,700
Higher rents — median is $1,597/mo
Higher unemployment (5.0% vs 3.5%)
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Amarillo
Key Differences at a Glance
Amarillo
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 100.0 (100 = US avg)
Amarillo
Median Home Value
$169k less
$172,700 vs $341,700
Amarillo
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
3.5% vs 5.0% unemployment
Buckeye
Median Income
$33,560
$94,188 vs $60,628/yr
Buckeye
Violent Crime
76% lower
166.8 vs 690.5 per 100k
Buckeye
Summer Heat
14.5°F warmer
July avg high 106.5°F vs 92.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Amarillo, TX | Buckeye, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper | 100.0 |
| Median Home Value | $172,700 ✓ Lower | $341,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $997 ✓ Lower | $1,597⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,628 | $94,188 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.5% ✓ Lower | 5.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.5 min ✓ Shorter | 32.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% | 14.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 160⚠ High | 41 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 182⚠ High | 44 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 37 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) ✓ Better | C- (72) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.2% ✓ Higher | 22.9% |
| High School or Higher | 86.1% | 88.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | AMARILLO ISD | Litchfield Elementary District (4281) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.7°F | 66.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F | 106.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.7" | 8.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 17.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 200,360 ✓ Larger | 95,042 |
| Median Age | 34.4 | 34.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.6% | 85.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 26.5% | 28.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.5% ✓ More | 12.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Amarillo's cost of living index is 90.8 vs Buckeye's 100.0 (US average = 100).
Amarillo is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Buckeye leads 13 of 23 categories. Amarillo wins 10 and Buckeye wins 13. 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 Buckeye or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($172,700 vs $341,700 median home), income ($60,628 vs $94,188), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Amarillo, TX and Buckeye, AZ are about 629 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.