Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Amarillo, TX
VS
College Station, TX
🏆 College Station leads 12 of 23 categories
Amarillo
Texas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8
Median Household Income
$60,628 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
182⚠ High
Population
200,360 ✓ Larger
College Station
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$52,397
Violent Crime Index
45 ✓ Safer
Population
120,451
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Amarillo, TX
Pros
Homes cost $133k less ($172,700 vs $305,800)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (3.5%)
Households earn $8,231 more per year on average
Rent averages $132/mo less ($997 vs $1,129)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
Cons
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
College Station, TX
Pros
75% less violent crime than Amarillo
More college-educated — 58.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (170.5 vs 380/100k)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.7)
Milder winters — January highs near 62°F vs 51°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $305,800
Median income trails Amarillo by $8,231/yr
Higher unemployment (4.7% vs 3.5%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Amarillo
Median Income
$8,231
$60,628 vs $52,397/yr
Amarillo
Median Home Value
$133k less
$172,700 vs $305,800
Amarillo
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
3.5% vs 4.7% unemployment
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 90.8 on the COL index
College Station
Violent Crime
75% lower
170.5 vs 690.5 per 100k
College Station
Summer Heat
3.4°F warmer
July avg high 95.4°F vs 92.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Amarillo, TX | College Station, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.8 | 90.7 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $172,700 ✓ Lower | $305,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $997 ✓ Lower | $1,129 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,628 ✓ Higher | $52,397 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.5% ✓ Lower | 4.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.5 min | 16.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% | 11.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 160⚠ High | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 182⚠ High | 45 ✓ 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) | A (129) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.2% | 58.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.1% | 95.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | AMARILLO ISD | COLLEGE STATION ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.7°F | 61.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F | 95.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.7" ✓ Drier | 46.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 17.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 200,360 ✓ Larger | 120,451 |
| Median Age | 34.4 ✓ Older | 22.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.6% ✓ Higher | 36.3% |
| Under 18 | 26.5% ✓ More | 16.5% |
| Over 65 | 14.5% ✓ More | 6.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Amarillo's cost of living index is 90.8 vs College Station's 90.7 (US average = 100).
College Station is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, College Station leads 12 of 23 categories. Amarillo wins 11 and College Station wins 12. 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 College Station or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($172,700 vs $305,800 median home), income ($60,628 vs $52,397), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Amarillo, TX and College Station, TX are about 452 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.