Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Amarillo, TX
VS
Houston, TX
🏆 Amarillo leads 16 of 23 categories
Amarillo
Texas
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,628 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
182⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
200,360
Houston
Texas
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$60,440
Violent Crime Index
302⚠ High
Population
2,296,253 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Amarillo, TX
Pros
40% less violent crime than Houston
Homes cost $62k less ($172,700 vs $235,000)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.1 pts lower (3.5%)
Rent averages $238/mo less ($997 vs $1,235)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Houston
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
Houston, TX
Pros
More college-educated — 35.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 51°F
Cons
Violent crime (1148.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4293.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 3.5%)
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Amarillo
Key Differences at a Glance
Amarillo
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 100.2 (100 = US avg)
Amarillo
Violent Crime
40% lower
690.5 vs 1148.2 per 100k
Amarillo
Median Home Value
$62k less
$172,700 vs $235,000
Amarillo
Unemployment
3.1 pp lower
3.5% vs 6.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Amarillo, TX | Houston, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper | 100.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $172,700 ✓ Lower | $235,000 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $997 ✓ Lower | $1,235 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,628 ✓ Higher | $60,440 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.5% ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.5 min ✓ Shorter | 27.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% | 9.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 160⚠ High ✓ Safer | 263⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 182⚠ High ✓ Safer | 302⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer | 204⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B (100) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.2% | 35.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.1% ✓ Higher | 79.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | AMARILLO ISD | HOUSTON ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.7°F | 62.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F | 93.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.7" ✓ Drier | 55.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 17.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 200,360 | 2,296,253 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.4 ✓ Older | 33.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.6% ✓ Higher | 42.0% |
| Under 18 | 26.5% ✓ More | 23.9% |
| Over 65 | 14.5% ✓ More | 11.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Amarillo's cost of living index is 90.8 vs Houston's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Amarillo is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Amarillo leads 16 of 23 categories. Amarillo wins 16 and Houston wins 7. 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 Houston or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($172,700 vs $235,000 median home), income ($60,628 vs $60,440), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Amarillo, TX and Houston, TX are about 530 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.