Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Amarillo, TX
VS
Hemet, CA
🏆 Amarillo leads 12 of 23 categories
Amarillo
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,628 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
182⚠ High
Population
200,360 ✓ Larger
Hemet
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$49,901
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
89,651
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Amarillo, TX
Pros
Homes cost $105k less ($172,700 vs $277,200)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 6.0 pts lower (3.5%)
Rent averages $360/mo less ($997 vs $1,357)
Commutes run 18 min shorter each way
Households earn $10,727 more per year on average
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Hemet
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
Hemet, CA
Pros
38% less violent crime than Amarillo
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 51°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,357/mo
Median income trails Amarillo by $10,727/yr
Cost of living runs 17% higher than Amarillo
Higher unemployment (9.5% vs 3.5%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Amarillo
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Amarillo
Median Income
$10,727
$60,628 vs $49,901/yr
Amarillo
Median Home Value
$105k less
$172,700 vs $277,200
Amarillo
Unemployment
6.0 pp lower
3.5% vs 9.5% unemployment
Hemet
Violent Crime
38% lower
424.8 vs 690.5 per 100k
Hemet
Summer Heat
3.1°F warmer
July avg high 95.1°F vs 92.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Amarillo, TX | Hemet, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $172,700 ✓ Lower | $277,200 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $997 ✓ Lower | $1,357⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,628 ✓ Higher | $49,901 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.5% ✓ Lower | 9.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.5 min ✓ Shorter | 36.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% | 7.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 160⚠ High | 98 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 182⚠ High | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 78 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) ✓ Better | C (78) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.2% ✓ Higher | 13.9% |
| High School or Higher | 86.1% ✓ Higher | 79.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | AMARILLO ISD | Hemet Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.7°F | 65.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F | 95.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.7" | 12.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 17.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 200,360 ✓ Larger | 89,651 |
| Median Age | 34.4 | 39.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.6% | 61.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 26.5% ✓ More | 24.1% |
| Over 65 | 14.5% | 22.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Amarillo's cost of living index is 90.8 vs Hemet's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Amarillo is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Amarillo leads 12 of 23 categories. Amarillo wins 12 and Hemet wins 11. 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 Hemet or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($172,700 vs $277,200 median home), income ($60,628 vs $49,901), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Amarillo, TX and Hemet, CA are about 869 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.