Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Amarillo, TX
VS
Elizabeth, NJ
🏆 Amarillo leads 19 of 23 categories
Amarillo
Texas
19
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,628 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
182⚠ High
Population
200,360 ✓ Larger
Elizabeth
New Jersey
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$59,939
Violent Crime Index
108⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
135,665
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Amarillo, TX
Pros
Homes cost $186k less ($172,700 vs $358,400)
Rent averages $393/mo less ($997 vs $1,390)
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Elizabeth
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.4 pts lower (3.5%)
Commutes run 8 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
Elizabeth, NJ
Pros
41% less violent crime than Amarillo
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 92°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $358,400
Higher rents — median is $1,390/mo
Cost of living runs 22% higher than Amarillo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Amarillo
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Amarillo
Median Income
$689
$60,628 vs $59,939/yr
Amarillo
Median Home Value
$186k less
$172,700 vs $358,400
Amarillo
Unemployment
2.4 pp lower
3.5% vs 5.9% unemployment
Amarillo
Summer Heat
5.1°F warmer
July avg high 92.0°F vs 86.9°F
Elizabeth
Violent Crime
41% lower
408.7 vs 690.5 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Amarillo, TX | Elizabeth, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $172,700 ✓ Lower | $358,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $997 ✓ Lower | $1,390⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,628 ✓ Higher | $59,939 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.5% ✓ Lower | 5.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.5 min ✓ Shorter | 26.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% ✓ Higher | 4.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 160⚠ High | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 182⚠ High | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer | 127⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) ✓ Better | B- (91) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.2% ✓ Higher | 14.1% |
| High School or Higher | 86.1% ✓ Higher | 74.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | AMARILLO ISD | Elizabeth Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.7°F ✓ Warmer | 40.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F ✓ Warmer | 86.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.7" ✓ Drier | 46.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 17.2" ✓ Less | 31.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 200,360 ✓ Larger | 135,665 |
| Median Age | 34.4 | 35.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.6% ✓ Higher | 25.1% |
| Under 18 | 26.5% ✓ More | 25.4% |
| Over 65 | 14.5% ✓ More | 11.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Amarillo's cost of living index is 90.8 vs Elizabeth's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Amarillo is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Amarillo leads 19 of 23 categories. Amarillo wins 19 and Elizabeth wins 4. 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 Elizabeth or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($172,700 vs $358,400 median home), income ($60,628 vs $59,939), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Amarillo, TX and Elizabeth, NJ are about 1,546 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.