Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Amarillo, TX
VS
Irvine, CA
🏆 Irvine leads 12 of 23 categories
Amarillo
Texas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,628
Violent Crime Index
182⚠ High
Population
200,360
Irvine
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$122,948 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
22 ✓ Safer
Population
304,527 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Amarillo, TX
Pros
Homes cost $853k less ($172,700 vs $1,025,700)
Rent averages $1752/mo less ($997 vs $2,749)
25% cheaper overall cost of living than Irvine
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (3.5%)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
Cons
Median income trails Irvine by $62,320/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
Irvine, CA
Pros
Households earn $62,320 more per year on average
88% less violent crime than Amarillo
More college-educated — 70.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (84.0 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 51°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 92°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,025,700
Higher rents — median is $2,749/mo
Cost of living runs 25% higher than Amarillo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Amarillo
Cost of Living
25% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Amarillo
Median Home Value
$853k less
$172,700 vs $1,025,700
Amarillo
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
3.5% vs 5.5% unemployment
Amarillo
Summer Heat
6.9°F warmer
July avg high 92.0°F vs 85.1°F
Irvine
Median Income
$62,320
$122,948 vs $60,628/yr
Irvine
Violent Crime
88% lower
84.0 vs 690.5 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Amarillo, TX | Irvine, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $172,700 ✓ Lower | $1,025,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $997 ✓ Lower | $2,749⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,628 | $122,948 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.5% ✓ Lower | 5.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.5 min ✓ Shorter | 24.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% | 23.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 160⚠ High | 40 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 182⚠ High | 22 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 66 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 26.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.2% | 70.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.1% | 96.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | AMARILLO ISD | Irvine Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.7°F | 67.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F ✓ Warmer | 85.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.7" | 14.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 17.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 200,360 | 304,527 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.4 ✓ Older | 33.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.6% ✓ Higher | 43.9% |
| Under 18 | 26.5% ✓ More | 21.8% |
| Over 65 | 14.5% ✓ More | 10.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Amarillo's cost of living index is 90.8 vs Irvine's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Amarillo is 25% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Irvine leads 12 of 23 categories. Amarillo wins 11 and Irvine wins 12. 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 Irvine or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($172,700 vs $1,025,700 median home), income ($60,628 vs $122,948), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Amarillo, TX and Irvine, CA are about 913 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.