Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Amarillo, TX
VS
Erie, PA
🏆 Amarillo leads 12 of 23 categories
Amarillo
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,628 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
182⚠ High
Population
200,360 ✓ Larger
Erie
Pennsylvania
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.5
Median Household Income
$43,135
Violent Crime Index
99 ✓ Safer
Population
94,826
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Amarillo, TX
Pros
Households earn $17,493 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.3 pts lower (3.5%)
Milder winters — January highs near 51°F vs 35°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
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
Erie, PA
Pros
Homes cost $71k less ($101,500 vs $172,700)
46% less violent crime than Amarillo
Rent averages $188/mo less ($809 vs $997)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.5)
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 92°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Amarillo by $17,493/yr
Higher unemployment (6.8% vs 3.5%)
Snowy winters — about 104" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Amarillo
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 91.5 (100 = US avg)
Amarillo
Median Income
$17,493
$60,628 vs $43,135/yr
Amarillo
Unemployment
3.3 pp lower
3.5% vs 6.8% unemployment
Amarillo
Summer Heat
10.9°F warmer
July avg high 92.0°F vs 81.1°F
Erie
Violent Crime
46% lower
375.6 vs 690.5 per 100k
Erie
Median Home Value
$71k less
$101,500 vs $172,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Amarillo, TX | Erie, PA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper | 91.5 |
| Median Home Value | $172,700 | $101,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $997 | $809 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,628 ✓ Higher | $43,135 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.5% ✓ Lower | 6.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.5 min | 18.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% | 5.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 160⚠ High | 96 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 182⚠ High | 99 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 92 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) ✓ Better | B- (90) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 | 12.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.2% ✓ Higher | 22.4% |
| High School or Higher | 86.1% | 88.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | AMARILLO ISD | Erie City SD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.7°F ✓ Warmer | 35.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F ✓ Warmer | 81.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.7" ✓ Drier | 43.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 17.2" ✓ Less | 104.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 200,360 ✓ Larger | 94,826 |
| Median Age | 34.4 | 35.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.6% ✓ Higher | 52.6% |
| Under 18 | 26.5% ✓ More | 21.4% |
| Over 65 | 14.5% | 15.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Amarillo's cost of living index is 90.8 vs Erie's 91.5 (US average = 100).
Amarillo is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Amarillo leads 12 of 23 categories. Amarillo wins 12 and Erie wins 11. 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 Erie or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($172,700 vs $101,500 median home), income ($60,628 vs $43,135), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Amarillo, TX and Erie, PA are about 1,263 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.