Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Amarillo, TX
VS
Frisco, TX
🏆 Frisco leads 15 of 23 categories
Amarillo
Texas
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,628
Violent Crime Index
182⚠ High
Population
200,360
Frisco
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$144,567 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
27 ✓ Safer
Population
202,075 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Amarillo, TX
Pros
Homes cost $359k less ($172,700 vs $531,400)
Rent averages $806/mo less ($997 vs $1,803)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Frisco
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
Cons
Median income trails Frisco by $83,939/yr
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
Frisco, TX
Pros
Households earn $83,939 more per year on average
85% less violent crime than Amarillo
More college-educated — 65.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (100.9 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 51°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $531,400
Higher rents — median is $1,803/mo
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Amarillo
Longer commutes — 28.5 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Amarillo
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Amarillo
Median Home Value
$359k less
$172,700 vs $531,400
Frisco
Median Income
$83,939
$144,567 vs $60,628/yr
Frisco
Violent Crime
85% lower
100.9 vs 690.5 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Amarillo, TX | Frisco, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper | 103.3⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $172,700 ✓ Lower | $531,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $997 ✓ Lower | $1,803⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,628 | $144,567 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.5% ✓ Lower | 3.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.5 min ✓ Shorter | 28.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% | 29.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 160⚠ High | 35 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 182⚠ High | 27 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 48 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | A+ (130) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.2% | 65.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.1% | 96.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | AMARILLO ISD | FRISCO ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.7°F | 55.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.7" ✓ Drier | 42.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 17.2" | 2.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 200,360 | 202,075 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.4 | 37.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.6% | 67.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 26.5% | 28.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.5% ✓ More | 9.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Amarillo's cost of living index is 90.8 vs Frisco's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Amarillo is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Frisco leads 15 of 23 categories. Amarillo wins 8 and Frisco wins 15. 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 Frisco or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($172,700 vs $531,400 median home), income ($60,628 vs $144,567), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Amarillo, TX and Frisco, TX are about 319 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.