Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Amarillo, TX
VS
Kent, WA
🏆 Amarillo leads 15 of 23 categories
Amarillo
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,628
Violent Crime Index
182⚠ High
Population
200,360 ✓ Larger
Kent
Washington
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,966 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
135,169
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Amarillo, TX
Pros
Homes cost $306k less ($172,700 vs $478,400)
Rent averages $745/mo less ($997 vs $1,742)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.1 pts lower (3.5%)
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Kent
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
Cons
Median income trails Kent by $26,338/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
Kent, WA
Pros
Households earn $26,338 more per year on average
29% less violent crime than Amarillo
Cooler summers — July highs near 78°F vs 92°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $478,400
Higher rents — median is $1,742/mo
Violent crime (489.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 22% higher than Amarillo
Key Differences at a Glance
Amarillo
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Amarillo
Median Home Value
$306k less
$172,700 vs $478,400
Amarillo
Unemployment
4.1 pp lower
3.5% vs 7.6% unemployment
Amarillo
Summer Heat
13.7°F warmer
July avg high 92.0°F vs 78.3°F
Kent
Median Income
$26,338
$86,966 vs $60,628/yr
Kent
Violent Crime
29% lower
489.7 vs 690.5 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Amarillo, TX | Kent, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $172,700 ✓ Lower | $478,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $997 ✓ Lower | $1,742⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,628 | $86,966 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.5% ✓ Lower | 7.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.5 min ✓ Shorter | 30.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% | 10.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 160⚠ High | 149⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 182⚠ High | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer | 180⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.2% | 27.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.1% | 87.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | AMARILLO ISD | Kent School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.7°F ✓ Warmer | 48.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F ✓ Warmer | 78.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.7" ✓ Drier | 44.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 17.2" | 6.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 200,360 ✓ Larger | 135,169 |
| Median Age | 34.4 | 34.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.6% ✓ Higher | 55.8% |
| Under 18 | 26.5% ✓ More | 24.6% |
| Over 65 | 14.5% ✓ More | 10.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Amarillo's cost of living index is 90.8 vs Kent's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Amarillo is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Amarillo leads 15 of 23 categories. Amarillo wins 15 and Kent wins 8. 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 Kent or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($172,700 vs $478,400 median home), income ($60,628 vs $86,966), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Amarillo, TX and Kent, WA are about 1,345 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.