Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Amarillo, TX
VS
Costa Mesa, CA
🏆 Amarillo leads 14 of 23 categories
Amarillo
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,628
Violent Crime Index
182⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
200,360 ✓ Larger
Costa Mesa
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$104,981 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
194⚠ High
Population
111,490
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Amarillo, TX
Pros
Homes cost $787k less ($172,700 vs $959,800)
Rent averages $1271/mo less ($997 vs $2,268)
25% cheaper overall cost of living than Costa Mesa
6% less violent crime than Costa Mesa
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (3.5%)
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Costa Mesa by $44,353/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
Costa Mesa, CA
Pros
Households earn $44,353 more per year on average
More college-educated — 42.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 51°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 79°F vs 92°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $959,800
Higher rents — median is $2,268/mo
Violent crime (737.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 25% higher than Amarillo
Key Differences at a Glance
Amarillo
Cost of Living
25% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Amarillo
Violent Crime
6% lower
690.5 vs 737.6 per 100k
Amarillo
Median Home Value
$787k less
$172,700 vs $959,800
Amarillo
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
3.5% vs 5.0% unemployment
Amarillo
Summer Heat
13.1°F warmer
July avg high 92.0°F vs 78.9°F
Costa Mesa
Median Income
$44,353
$104,981 vs $60,628/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Amarillo, TX | Costa Mesa, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $172,700 ✓ Lower | $959,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $997 ✓ Lower | $2,268⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,628 | $104,981 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.5% ✓ Lower | 5.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.5 min ✓ Shorter | 21.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% | 16.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 160⚠ High ✓ Safer | 170⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 182⚠ High ✓ Safer | 194⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer | 135⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B (102) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.2% | 42.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.1% | 87.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | AMARILLO ISD | Newport-Mesa Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.7°F | 67.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F ✓ Warmer | 78.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.7" | 11.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 17.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 200,360 ✓ Larger | 111,490 |
| Median Age | 34.4 | 36.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.6% ✓ Higher | 39.7% |
| Under 18 | 26.5% ✓ More | 18.9% |
| Over 65 | 14.5% ✓ More | 13.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Amarillo's cost of living index is 90.8 vs Costa Mesa's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Amarillo is 25% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Amarillo leads 14 of 23 categories. Amarillo wins 14 and Costa Mesa 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 Costa Mesa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($172,700 vs $959,800 median home), income ($60,628 vs $104,981), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Amarillo, TX and Costa Mesa, CA are about 921 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.