Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Amarillo, TX
VS
Carlsbad, CA
🏆 Carlsbad 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 ✓ Larger
Carlsbad
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$134,139 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
52 ✓ Safer
Population
114,745
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Amarillo, TX
Pros
Homes cost $898k less ($172,700 vs $1,070,500)
Rent averages $1480/mo less ($997 vs $2,477)
21% cheaper overall cost of living than Carlsbad
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (3.5%)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
Cons
Median income trails Carlsbad by $73,511/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
Carlsbad, CA
Pros
Households earn $73,511 more per year on average
71% less violent crime than Amarillo
More college-educated — 59.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (199.1 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 74°F vs 92°F
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 51°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,070,500
Higher rents — median is $2,477/mo
Cost of living runs 21% higher than Amarillo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Amarillo
Cost of Living
21% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
Amarillo
Median Home Value
$898k less
$172,700 vs $1,070,500
Amarillo
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
3.5% vs 6.0% unemployment
Amarillo
Summer Heat
17.8°F warmer
July avg high 92.0°F vs 74.2°F
Carlsbad
Median Income
$73,511
$134,139 vs $60,628/yr
Carlsbad
Violent Crime
71% lower
199.1 vs 690.5 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Amarillo, TX | Carlsbad, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper | 111.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $172,700 ✓ Lower | $1,070,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $997 ✓ Lower | $2,477⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,628 | $134,139 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.5% ✓ Lower | 6.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.5 min ✓ Shorter | 28.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% | 24.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 160⚠ High | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 182⚠ High | 52 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 72 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | A- (110) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.2% | 59.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.1% | 95.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | AMARILLO ISD | Carlsbad Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.7°F | 65.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F ✓ Warmer | 74.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.7" | 11.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 17.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 200,360 ✓ Larger | 114,745 |
| Median Age | 34.4 | 42.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.6% | 62.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 26.5% ✓ More | 22.8% |
| Over 65 | 14.5% | 17.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Amarillo's cost of living index is 90.8 vs Carlsbad's 111.5 (US average = 100).
Amarillo is 21% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Carlsbad leads 14 of 23 categories. Amarillo wins 9 and Carlsbad 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 Carlsbad or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($172,700 vs $1,070,500 median home), income ($60,628 vs $134,139), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Amarillo, TX and Carlsbad, CA are about 894 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.