Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Amarillo, TX
VS
Columbia, SC
🏆 Amarillo leads 14 of 23 categories
Amarillo
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,628 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
182⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
200,360 ✓ Larger
Columbia
South Carolina
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.9
Median Household Income
$54,095
Violent Crime Index
203⚠ High
Population
136,754
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Amarillo, TX
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.4 pts lower (3.5%)
Homes cost $54k less ($172,700 vs $226,200)
10% less violent crime than Columbia
Households earn $6,533 more per year on average
Rent averages $108/mo less ($997 vs $1,105)
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
Columbia, SC
Pros
More college-educated — 44.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.9)
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 51°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (769.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3232.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Amarillo by $6,533/yr
Higher unemployment (7.9% vs 3.5%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Amarillo
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 92.9 (100 = US avg)
Amarillo
Median Income
$6,533
$60,628 vs $54,095/yr
Amarillo
Violent Crime
10% lower
690.5 vs 769.9 per 100k
Amarillo
Median Home Value
$54k less
$172,700 vs $226,200
Amarillo
Unemployment
4.4 pp lower
3.5% vs 7.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Amarillo, TX | Columbia, SC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper | 92.9 |
| Median Home Value | $172,700 ✓ Lower | $226,200 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $997 ✓ Lower | $1,105 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,628 ✓ Higher | $54,095 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.5% ✓ Lower | 7.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.5 min | 17.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% | 8.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 160⚠ High ✓ Safer | 183⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 182⚠ High ✓ Safer | 203⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer | 154⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | A- (115) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 | 12.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.2% | 44.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.1% | 91.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | AMARILLO ISD | Richland 01 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.7°F | 56.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F | 92.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.7" ✓ Drier | 48.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 17.2" | 0.4" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 200,360 ✓ Larger | 136,754 |
| Median Age | 34.4 ✓ Older | 28.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.6% ✓ Higher | 47.0% |
| Under 18 | 26.5% ✓ More | 17.0% |
| Over 65 | 14.5% ✓ More | 10.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Amarillo's cost of living index is 90.8 vs Columbia's 92.9 (US average = 100).
Amarillo is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Amarillo leads 14 of 23 categories. Amarillo wins 14 and Columbia wins 9. 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 Columbia or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($172,700 vs $226,200 median home), income ($60,628 vs $54,095), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Amarillo, TX and Columbia, SC are about 1,190 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.