Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Amarillo, TX
VS
Fresno, CA
🏆 Amarillo leads 15 of 23 categories
Amarillo
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,628
Violent Crime Index
182⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
200,360
Fresno
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$63,001 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
194⚠ High
Population
541,528 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Amarillo, TX
Pros
Homes cost $149k less ($172,700 vs $321,800)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.5 pts lower (3.5%)
6% less violent crime than Fresno
Rent averages $230/mo less ($997 vs $1,227)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Fresno
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
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
Fresno, CA
Pros
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $321,800
Violent crime (735.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Amarillo
Property crime (3271.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Amarillo
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 105.0 (100 = US avg)
Amarillo
Violent Crime
6% lower
690.5 vs 735.5 per 100k
Amarillo
Median Home Value
$149k less
$172,700 vs $321,800
Amarillo
Unemployment
5.5 pp lower
3.5% vs 9.0% unemployment
Fresno
Median Income
$2,373
$63,001 vs $60,628/yr
Fresno
Summer Heat
5.7°F warmer
July avg high 97.7°F vs 92.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Amarillo, TX | Fresno, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper | 105.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $172,700 ✓ Lower | $321,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $997 ✓ Lower | $1,227 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,628 | $63,001 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.5% ✓ Lower | 9.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.5 min ✓ Shorter | 22.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% | 8.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 160⚠ High ✓ Safer | 178⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 182⚠ High ✓ Safer | 194⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer | 156⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.2% ✓ Higher | 24.4% |
| High School or Higher | 86.1% ✓ Higher | 79.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | AMARILLO ISD | Fresno Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.7°F | 55.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F | 97.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.7" | 11.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 17.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 200,360 | 541,528 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.4 ✓ Older | 32.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.6% ✓ Higher | 48.1% |
| Under 18 | 26.5% | 27.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.5% ✓ More | 11.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Amarillo's cost of living index is 90.8 vs Fresno's 105.0 (US average = 100).
Amarillo is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Amarillo leads 15 of 23 categories. Amarillo wins 15 and Fresno wins 8. 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 Fresno or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($172,700 vs $321,800 median home), income ($60,628 vs $63,001), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Amarillo, TX and Fresno, CA are about 1,009 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.