Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Amarillo, TX
VS
Fort Lauderdale, FL
🏆 Amarillo leads 11 of 20 categories
Amarillo
Texas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,628
Violent Crime Index
182⚠ High
Population
200,360 ✓ Larger
Fort Lauderdale
Florida
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$75,376 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
182,673
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Amarillo, TX
Pros
Homes cost $245k less ($172,700 vs $417,600)
Rent averages $630/mo less ($997 vs $1,627)
21% cheaper overall cost of living than Fort Lauderdale
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (3.5%)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
Cons
Violent crime (690.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Fort Lauderdale by $14,748/yr
Property crime (2655.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Pros
Households earn $14,748 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 77°F vs 51°F
More college-educated — 40.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $417,600
Higher rents — median is $1,627/mo
Cost of living runs 21% higher than Amarillo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Key Differences at a Glance
Amarillo
Cost of Living
21% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Amarillo
Median Home Value
$245k less
$172,700 vs $417,600
Amarillo
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
3.5% vs 5.4% unemployment
Fort Lauderdale
Median Income
$14,748
$75,376 vs $60,628/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Amarillo, TX | Fort Lauderdale, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper | 111.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $172,700 ✓ Lower | $417,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $997 ✓ Lower | $1,627⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,628 | $75,376 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.5% ✓ Lower | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.5 min ✓ Shorter | 26.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% | 14.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 160⚠ High | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 182⚠ High | — |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B (98) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.2% | 40.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.1% | 89.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | AMARILLO ISD | BROWARD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.7°F | 76.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F ✓ Warmer | 90.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.7" ✓ Drier | 63.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 17.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 200,360 ✓ Larger | 182,673 |
| Median Age | 34.4 | 43.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.6% ✓ Higher | 54.2% |
| Under 18 | 26.5% ✓ More | 16.9% |
| Over 65 | 14.5% | 19.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Amarillo's cost of living index is 90.8 vs Fort Lauderdale's 111.8 (US average = 100).
Amarillo is 21% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Amarillo leads 11 of 20 categories. Amarillo wins 11 and Fort Lauderdale 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 Fort Lauderdale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($172,700 vs $417,600 median home), income ($60,628 vs $75,376), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Amarillo, TX and Fort Lauderdale, FL are about 1,428 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.