Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Amarillo, TX
VS
Fargo, ND
🏆 Amarillo leads 12 of 23 categories
Amarillo
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8
Median Household Income
$60,628
Violent Crime Index
182⚠ High
Population
200,360 ✓ Larger
Fargo
North Dakota
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,432 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
131⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
127,319
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Amarillo, TX
Pros
Homes cost $82k less ($172,700 vs $254,900)
Milder winters — January highs near 51°F vs 17°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
Median income trails Fargo by $3,804/yr
Fargo, ND
Pros
28% less violent crime than Amarillo
More college-educated — 42.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $97/mo less ($900 vs $997)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.4)
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 92°F
Households earn $3,804 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (498.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3696.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 53" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Amarillo
Median Home Value
$82k less
$172,700 vs $254,900
Amarillo
Summer Heat
10.4°F warmer
July avg high 92.0°F vs 81.6°F
Fargo
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 89.4 vs 90.8 (100 = US avg)
Fargo
Median Income
$3,804
$64,432 vs $60,628/yr
Fargo
Violent Crime
28% lower
498.2 vs 690.5 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Amarillo, TX | Fargo, ND |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.8 | 89.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $172,700 ✓ Lower | $254,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $997 | $900 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,628 | $64,432 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.5% ✓ Lower | 3.6% |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.5 min | 15.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% | 6.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 160⚠ High | 149⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 182⚠ High | 131⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer | 176⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | A- (117) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.2% | 42.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.1% | 95.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | AMARILLO ISD | FARGO 1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.7°F ✓ Warmer | 17.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F ✓ Warmer | 81.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.7" ✓ Drier | 24.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 17.2" ✓ Less | 52.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 200,360 ✓ Larger | 127,319 |
| Median Age | 34.4 ✓ Older | 31.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.6% ✓ Higher | 44.2% |
| Under 18 | 26.5% ✓ More | 19.4% |
| Over 65 | 14.5% ✓ More | 13.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Amarillo's cost of living index is 90.8 vs Fargo's 89.4 (US average = 100).
Fargo is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Amarillo leads 12 of 23 categories. Amarillo wins 12 and Fargo 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 Fargo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($172,700 vs $254,900 median home), income ($60,628 vs $64,432), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Amarillo, TX and Fargo, ND are about 847 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.