Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Amarillo, TX
VS
Clifton, NJ
🏆 Amarillo leads 12 of 23 categories
Amarillo
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,628
Violent Crime Index
182⚠ High
Population
200,360 ✓ Larger
Clifton
New Jersey
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$94,179 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
44 ✓ Safer
Population
89,451
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Amarillo, TX
Pros
Homes cost $255k less ($172,700 vs $428,000)
Rent averages $636/mo less ($997 vs $1,633)
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Clifton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.9 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 Clifton by $33,551/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
Clifton, NJ
Pros
76% less violent crime than Amarillo
Households earn $33,551 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (165.8 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 34.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 92°F
Smaller class sizes — 11.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $428,000
Higher rents — median is $1,633/mo
Cost of living runs 22% higher than Amarillo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Amarillo
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Amarillo
Median Home Value
$255k less
$172,700 vs $428,000
Amarillo
Unemployment
2.9 pp lower
3.5% vs 6.4% unemployment
Amarillo
Summer Heat
5.5°F warmer
July avg high 92.0°F vs 86.5°F
Clifton
Median Income
$33,551
$94,179 vs $60,628/yr
Clifton
Violent Crime
76% lower
165.8 vs 690.5 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Amarillo, TX | Clifton, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $172,700 ✓ Lower | $428,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $997 ✓ Lower | $1,633⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,628 | $94,179 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.5% ✓ Lower | 6.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.5 min ✓ Shorter | 28.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% | 8.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 160⚠ High | 69 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 182⚠ High | 44 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 108⚠ High ✓ 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 | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.2% | 34.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.1% | 89.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | AMARILLO ISD | Clifton Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.7°F ✓ Warmer | 39.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F ✓ Warmer | 86.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.7" ✓ Drier | 50.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 17.2" ✓ Less | 28.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 200,360 ✓ Larger | 89,451 |
| Median Age | 34.4 | 40.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.6% ✓ Higher | 57.5% |
| Under 18 | 26.5% ✓ More | 19.7% |
| Over 65 | 14.5% | 17.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Amarillo's cost of living index is 90.8 vs Clifton's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Amarillo is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Amarillo leads 12 of 23 categories. Amarillo wins 12 and Clifton 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 Clifton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($172,700 vs $428,000 median home), income ($60,628 vs $94,179), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Amarillo, TX and Clifton, NJ are about 1,549 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.