Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Amarillo, TX
VS
East Los Angeles, CA
🏆 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
Population
200,360 ✓ Larger
East Los Angeles
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,119 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
147⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
117,222
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Amarillo, TX
Pros
Homes cost $410k less ($172,700 vs $582,400)
Rent averages $372/mo less ($997 vs $1,369)
25% cheaper overall cost of living than East Los Angeles
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.8 pts lower (3.5%)
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
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
Median income trails East Los Angeles by $3,491/yr
East Los Angeles, CA
Pros
19% less violent crime than Amarillo
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 51°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 92°F
Households earn $3,491 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $582,400
Higher rents — median is $1,369/mo
Violent crime (558.4/100k) 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
Median Home Value
$410k less
$172,700 vs $582,400
Amarillo
Unemployment
2.8 pp lower
3.5% vs 6.3% unemployment
Amarillo
Summer Heat
10.0°F warmer
July avg high 92.0°F vs 82.0°F
East Los Angeles
Median Income
$3,491
$64,119 vs $60,628/yr
East Los Angeles
Violent Crime
19% lower
558.4 vs 690.5 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Amarillo, TX | East Los Angeles, 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 | $582,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $997 ✓ Lower | $1,369⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,628 | $64,119 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.5% ✓ Lower | 6.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.5 min ✓ Shorter | 30.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% | 6.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 160⚠ High | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 182⚠ High | 147⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 91 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) ✓ Better | C- (68) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.2% ✓ Higher | 11.0% |
| High School or Higher | 86.1% ✓ Higher | 55.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | AMARILLO ISD | Animo Ellen Ochoa Charter Middle District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.7°F | 68.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F ✓ Warmer | 82.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.7" | 14.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 17.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 200,360 ✓ Larger | 117,222 |
| Median Age | 34.4 ✓ Older | 33.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.6% ✓ Higher | 34.9% |
| Under 18 | 26.5% ✓ More | 24.6% |
| Over 65 | 14.5% ✓ More | 10.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Amarillo's cost of living index is 90.8 vs East Los Angeles's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Amarillo is 25% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Amarillo leads 15 of 23 categories. Amarillo wins 15 and East Los Angeles 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 East Los Angeles or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($172,700 vs $582,400 median home), income ($60,628 vs $64,119), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Amarillo, TX and East Los Angeles, CA are about 931 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.