Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Amarillo, TX
VS
Fayetteville, NC
🏆 Amarillo leads 14 of 23 categories
Amarillo
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,628 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
182⚠ High
Population
200,360
Fayetteville
North Carolina
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.4
Median Household Income
$53,424
Violent Crime Index
174⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
208,697 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Amarillo, TX
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.9 pts lower (3.5%)
Households earn $7,204 more per year on average
Rent averages $120/mo less ($997 vs $1,117)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
Smaller class sizes — 14.5:1 student-teacher ratio
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
Fayetteville, NC
Pros
4% less violent crime than Amarillo
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
More college-educated — 28.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (660.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3094.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Amarillo by $7,204/yr
Higher unemployment (8.4% vs 3.5%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Amarillo
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 91.4 (100 = US avg)
Amarillo
Median Income
$7,204
$60,628 vs $53,424/yr
Amarillo
Unemployment
4.9 pp lower
3.5% vs 8.4% unemployment
Fayetteville
Violent Crime
4% lower
660.2 vs 690.5 per 100k
Fayetteville
Median Home Value
$14k less
$158,500 vs $172,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Amarillo, TX | Fayetteville, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper | 91.4 |
| Median Home Value | $172,700 | $158,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $997 ✓ Lower | $1,117 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,628 ✓ Higher | $53,424 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.5% ✓ Lower | 8.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.5 min ✓ Shorter | 19.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% | 5.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 160⚠ High ✓ Safer | 163⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 182⚠ High | 174⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer | 147⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B- (93) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.2% | 28.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.1% | 93.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | AMARILLO ISD | Cumberland County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.7°F | 54.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F ✓ Warmer | 90.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.7" ✓ Drier | 47.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 17.2" | 1.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 200,360 | 208,697 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.4 ✓ Older | 30.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.6% ✓ Higher | 45.4% |
| Under 18 | 26.5% ✓ More | 23.6% |
| Over 65 | 14.5% ✓ More | 12.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Amarillo's cost of living index is 90.8 vs Fayetteville's 91.4 (US average = 100).
Amarillo is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Amarillo leads 14 of 23 categories. Amarillo wins 14 and Fayetteville wins 9. 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 Fayetteville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($172,700 vs $158,500 median home), income ($60,628 vs $53,424), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Amarillo, TX and Fayetteville, NC are about 1,289 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.