Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Amarillo, TX
VS
Corpus Christi, TX
🏆 Amarillo leads 17 of 22 categories
Amarillo
Texas
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,628
Violent Crime Index
182⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
200,360
Corpus Christi
Texas
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.8
Median Household Income
$64,449 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
227⚠ High
Population
317,804 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Amarillo, TX
Pros
20% less violent crime than Corpus Christi
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (3.5%)
Rent averages $181/mo less ($997 vs $1,178)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Corpus Christi
Smaller class sizes — 14.5:1 student-teacher ratio
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
Median income trails Corpus Christi by $3,821/yr
Corpus Christi, TX
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 51°F
Households earn $3,821 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (863.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3011.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.6% vs 3.5%)
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Amarillo
Key Differences at a Glance
Amarillo
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 95.8 (100 = US avg)
Amarillo
Violent Crime
20% lower
690.5 vs 863.6 per 100k
Amarillo
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
3.5% vs 5.6% unemployment
Amarillo
Summer Heat
3.3°F warmer
July avg high 92.0°F vs 88.7°F
Corpus Christi
Median Income
$3,821
$64,449 vs $60,628/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Amarillo, TX | Corpus Christi, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper | 95.8 |
| Median Home Value | $172,700 ✓ Lower | $180,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $997 ✓ Lower | $1,178 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,628 | $64,449 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.5% ✓ Lower | 5.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.5 min ✓ Shorter | 19.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% ✓ Higher | 4.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 160⚠ High ✓ Safer | 194⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 182⚠ High ✓ Safer | 227⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer | 143⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) ✓ Better | C+ (84) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.2% ✓ Higher | 23.1% |
| High School or Higher | 86.1% ✓ Higher | 85.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | AMARILLO ISD | CORPUS CHRISTI ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.7°F | 63.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F ✓ Warmer | 88.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.7" ✓ Drier | 34.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 17.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 200,360 | 317,804 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.4 | 35.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.6% ✓ Higher | 57.3% |
| Under 18 | 26.5% ✓ More | 24.0% |
| Over 65 | 14.5% | 14.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Amarillo's cost of living index is 90.8 vs Corpus Christi's 95.8 (US average = 100).
Amarillo is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Amarillo leads 17 of 22 categories. Amarillo wins 17 and Corpus Christi wins 5. 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 Corpus Christi or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($172,700 vs $180,900 median home), income ($60,628 vs $64,449), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Amarillo, TX and Corpus Christi, TX are about 583 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.