Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Amarillo, TX
VS
Cambridge, MA
🏆 Amarillo leads 13 of 23 categories
Amarillo
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,628
Violent Crime Index
182⚠ High
Population
200,360 ✓ Larger
Cambridge
Massachusetts
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$121,539 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
115⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
117,962
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Amarillo, TX
Pros
Homes cost $825k less ($172,700 vs $997,600)
Rent averages $1631/mo less ($997 vs $2,628)
21% cheaper overall cost of living than Cambridge
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 51°F vs 37°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
Cons
Median income trails Cambridge by $60,911/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
Cambridge, MA
Pros
Households earn $60,911 more per year on average
More college-educated — 79.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
37% less violent crime than Amarillo
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 92°F
Smaller class sizes — 9.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $997,600
Higher rents — median is $2,628/mo
Cost of living runs 21% higher than Amarillo
Property crime (2644.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Amarillo
Cost of Living
21% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Amarillo
Median Home Value
$825k less
$172,700 vs $997,600
Amarillo
Summer Heat
7.3°F warmer
July avg high 92.0°F vs 84.7°F
Cambridge
Median Income
$60,911
$121,539 vs $60,628/yr
Cambridge
Violent Crime
37% lower
436.7 vs 690.5 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Amarillo, TX | Cambridge, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper | 111.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $172,700 ✓ Lower | $997,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $997 ✓ Lower | $2,628⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,628 | $121,539 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.5% | 3.3% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.5 min ✓ Shorter | 26.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% | 25.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 160⚠ High | 119⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 182⚠ High | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 126⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | A+ (135) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 | 9.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.2% | 79.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.1% | 95.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | AMARILLO ISD | Cambridge |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.7°F ✓ Warmer | 37.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F ✓ Warmer | 84.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.7" ✓ Drier | 49.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 17.2" ✓ Less | 49.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 200,360 ✓ Larger | 117,962 |
| Median Age | 34.4 ✓ Older | 30.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.6% ✓ Higher | 33.6% |
| Under 18 | 26.5% ✓ More | 12.2% |
| Over 65 | 14.5% ✓ More | 11.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Amarillo's cost of living index is 90.8 vs Cambridge's 111.6 (US average = 100).
Amarillo is 21% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Amarillo leads 13 of 23 categories. Amarillo wins 13 and Cambridge wins 10. 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 Cambridge or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($172,700 vs $997,600 median home), income ($60,628 vs $121,539), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Amarillo, TX and Cambridge, MA are about 1,716 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.