Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Amarillo, TX
VS
Dayton, OH
🏆 Amarillo leads 18 of 23 categories
Amarillo
Texas
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,628 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
182⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
200,360 ✓ Larger
Dayton
Ohio
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.3
Median Household Income
$41,443
Violent Crime Index
352⚠ High
Population
137,305
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 6.5 pts lower (3.5%)
48% less violent crime than Dayton
Households earn $19,185 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 51°F vs 36°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
More college-educated — 25.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
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
Dayton, OH
Pros
Homes cost $87k less ($86,200 vs $172,700)
Rent averages $167/mo less ($830 vs $997)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.3)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 92°F
Cons
Median income trails Amarillo by $19,185/yr
Violent crime (1339.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4334.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (10.0% vs 3.5%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Amarillo
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 92.3 (100 = US avg)
Amarillo
Median Income
$19,185
$60,628 vs $41,443/yr
Amarillo
Violent Crime
48% lower
690.5 vs 1339.2 per 100k
Amarillo
Unemployment
6.5 pp lower
3.5% vs 10.0% unemployment
Amarillo
Summer Heat
5.3°F warmer
July avg high 92.0°F vs 86.7°F
Dayton
Median Home Value
$87k less
$86,200 vs $172,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Amarillo, TX | Dayton, OH |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper | 92.3 |
| Median Home Value | $172,700 | $86,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $997 | $830 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,628 ✓ Higher | $41,443 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.5% ✓ Lower | 10.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.5 min ✓ Shorter | 21.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% | 7.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 160⚠ High ✓ Safer | 294⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 182⚠ High ✓ Safer | 352⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer | 206⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) ✓ Better | C (77) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.2% ✓ Higher | 19.6% |
| High School or Higher | 86.1% | 86.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | AMARILLO ISD | Dayton City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.7°F ✓ Warmer | 36.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F ✓ Warmer | 86.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.7" ✓ Drier | 41.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 17.2" | 12.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 200,360 ✓ Larger | 137,305 |
| Median Age | 34.4 ✓ Older | 34.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.6% ✓ Higher | 48.4% |
| Under 18 | 26.5% ✓ More | 20.9% |
| Over 65 | 14.5% ✓ More | 13.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Amarillo's cost of living index is 90.8 vs Dayton's 92.3 (US average = 100).
Amarillo is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Amarillo leads 18 of 23 categories. Amarillo wins 18 and Dayton 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 Dayton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($172,700 vs $86,200 median home), income ($60,628 vs $41,443), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Amarillo, TX and Dayton, OH are about 1,015 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.