Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Amarillo, TX
VS
Hesperia, CA
🏆 Amarillo leads 12 of 23 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
Hesperia
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$67,698 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
137⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
99,878
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Amarillo, TX
Pros
Homes cost $165k less ($172,700 vs $337,600)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 6.3 pts lower (3.5%)
Rent averages $439/mo less ($997 vs $1,436)
Commutes run 24 min shorter each way
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Hesperia
More college-educated — 25.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
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
Median income trails Hesperia by $7,070/yr
Hesperia, CA
Pros
25% less violent crime than Amarillo
Households earn $7,070 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 51°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $337,600
Higher rents — median is $1,436/mo
Violent crime (519.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 17% higher than Amarillo
Key Differences at a Glance
Amarillo
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Amarillo
Median Home Value
$165k less
$172,700 vs $337,600
Amarillo
Unemployment
6.3 pp lower
3.5% vs 9.8% unemployment
Hesperia
Median Income
$7,070
$67,698 vs $60,628/yr
Hesperia
Violent Crime
25% lower
519.6 vs 690.5 per 100k
Hesperia
Summer Heat
4.8°F warmer
July avg high 96.8°F vs 92.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Amarillo, TX | Hesperia, 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 | $337,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $997 ✓ Lower | $1,436⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,628 | $67,698 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.5% ✓ Lower | 9.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.5 min ✓ Shorter | 42.4 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% | 8.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 160⚠ High | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 182⚠ High | 137⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 68 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) ✓ Better | C (81) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.2% ✓ Higher | 10.9% |
| High School or Higher | 86.1% ✓ Higher | 78.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | AMARILLO ISD | Hesperia Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.7°F | 60.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F | 96.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.7" | 11.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 17.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 200,360 ✓ Larger | 99,878 |
| Median Age | 34.4 ✓ Older | 32.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.6% | 63.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 26.5% | 29.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.5% ✓ More | 9.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Amarillo's cost of living index is 90.8 vs Hesperia'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 Hesperia 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 Hesperia or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($172,700 vs $337,600 median home), income ($60,628 vs $67,698), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Amarillo, TX and Hesperia, CA are about 879 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.