Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Amarillo, TX
VS
Denver, CO
🏆 Amarillo leads 15 of 23 categories
Amarillo
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,628
Violent Crime Index
182⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
200,360
Denver
Colorado
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$85,853 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
261⚠ High
Population
710,800 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Amarillo, TX
Pros
Homes cost $368k less ($172,700 vs $540,400)
Rent averages $668/mo less ($997 vs $1,665)
30% less violent crime than Denver
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (3.5%)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Denver
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Denver by $25,225/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
Denver, CO
Pros
Households earn $25,225 more per year on average
More college-educated — 54.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $540,400
Higher rents — median is $1,665/mo
Violent crime (993.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Amarillo
Key Differences at a Glance
Amarillo
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Amarillo
Violent Crime
30% lower
690.5 vs 993.0 per 100k
Amarillo
Median Home Value
$368k less
$172,700 vs $540,400
Amarillo
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
3.5% vs 4.7% unemployment
Denver
Median Income
$25,225
$85,853 vs $60,628/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Amarillo, TX | Denver, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper | 105.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $172,700 ✓ Lower | $540,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $997 ✓ Lower | $1,665⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,628 | $85,853 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.5% ✓ Lower | 4.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.5 min ✓ Shorter | 25.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% | 20.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 160⚠ High ✓ Safer | 247⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 182⚠ High ✓ Safer | 261⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer | 227⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | A- (110) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.2% | 54.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.1% | 90.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | AMARILLO ISD | School District No. 1 in the county of Denver and State of C |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.7°F ✓ Warmer | 46.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F ✓ Warmer | 90.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.7" | 15.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 17.2" ✓ Less | 49.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 200,360 | 710,800 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.4 | 34.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.6% ✓ Higher | 49.4% |
| Under 18 | 26.5% ✓ More | 18.7% |
| Over 65 | 14.5% ✓ More | 12.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Amarillo's cost of living index is 90.8 vs Denver's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Amarillo is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Amarillo leads 15 of 23 categories. Amarillo wins 15 and Denver wins 8. 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 Denver or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($172,700 vs $540,400 median home), income ($60,628 vs $85,853), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Amarillo, TX and Denver, CO are about 357 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.