Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Amarillo, TX
VS
Grand Prairie, TX
🏆 Amarillo leads 12 of 22 categories
Amarillo
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,628
Violent Crime Index
182⚠ High
Population
200,360 ✓ Larger
Grand Prairie
Texas
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,626 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
58 ✓ Safer
Population
197,279
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Amarillo, TX
Pros
Homes cost $70k less ($172,700 vs $242,900)
Rent averages $384/mo less ($997 vs $1,381)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (3.5%)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Grand Prairie
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 Grand Prairie by $15,998/yr
Property crime (2655.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Grand Prairie, TX
Pros
68% less violent crime than Amarillo
Households earn $15,998 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (221.2 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 51°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,381/mo
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Amarillo
Higher unemployment (5.0% vs 3.5%)
Longer commutes — 28.1 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
$70k less
$172,700 vs $242,900
Amarillo
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
3.5% vs 5.0% unemployment
Grand Prairie
Median Income
$15,998
$76,626 vs $60,628/yr
Grand Prairie
Violent Crime
68% lower
221.2 vs 690.5 per 100k
Grand Prairie
Summer Heat
3.5°F warmer
July avg high 95.5°F vs 92.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Amarillo, TX | Grand Prairie, 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 | $242,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $997 ✓ Lower | $1,381⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,628 | $76,626 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.5% ✓ Lower | 5.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.5 min ✓ Shorter | 28.1 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% | 9.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 160⚠ High | 65 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 182⚠ High | 58 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 76 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B- (92) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.2% | 26.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.1% ✓ Higher | 81.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | AMARILLO ISD | GRAND PRAIRIE ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.7°F | 58.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F | 95.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.7" ✓ Drier | 40.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 17.2" | 0.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 200,360 ✓ Larger | 197,279 |
| Median Age | 34.4 ✓ Older | 33.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.6% ✓ Higher | 59.2% |
| Under 18 | 26.5% | 27.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.5% ✓ More | 10.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Amarillo's cost of living index is 90.8 vs Grand Prairie's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Amarillo is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Amarillo leads 12 of 22 categories. Amarillo wins 12 and Grand Prairie wins 10. 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 Grand Prairie or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($172,700 vs $242,900 median home), income ($60,628 vs $76,626), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Amarillo, TX and Grand Prairie, TX are about 326 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.