Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Amarillo, TX
VS
Kirkland, WA
🏆 Amarillo leads 12 of 22 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
Kirkland
Washington
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$135,608 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
16 ✓ Safer
Population
92,015
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Amarillo, TX
Pros
Homes cost $765k less ($172,700 vs $937,700)
Rent averages $1253/mo less ($997 vs $2,250)
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Kirkland
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (3.5%)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
Cons
Median income trails Kirkland by $74,980/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
Kirkland, WA
Pros
Households earn $74,980 more per year on average
91% less violent crime than Amarillo
More college-educated — 62.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (60.6 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 92°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $937,700
Higher rents — median is $2,250/mo
Cost of living runs 22% higher than Amarillo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
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
$765k less
$172,700 vs $937,700
Amarillo
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
3.5% vs 4.7% unemployment
Amarillo
Summer Heat
15.5°F warmer
July avg high 92.0°F vs 76.5°F
Kirkland
Median Income
$74,980
$135,608 vs $60,628/yr
Kirkland
Violent Crime
91% lower
60.6 vs 690.5 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Amarillo, TX | Kirkland, 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 | $937,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $997 ✓ Lower | $2,250⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,628 | $135,608 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.5% ✓ Lower | 4.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.5 min ✓ Shorter | 25.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% | 24.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 160⚠ High | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 182⚠ High | 16 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 96 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) ✓ Better | C+ (89) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.2% | 62.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.1% | 96.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | AMARILLO ISD | Lake Washington Institute of Technology |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.7°F ✓ Warmer | 47.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F ✓ Warmer | 76.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.7" ✓ Drier | 37.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 17.2" | 3.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 200,360 ✓ Larger | 92,015 |
| Median Age | 34.4 | 38.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.6% | 62.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 26.5% ✓ More | 20.0% |
| Over 65 | 14.5% ✓ More | 14.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Amarillo's cost of living index is 90.8 vs Kirkland's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Amarillo is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Amarillo leads 12 of 22 categories. Amarillo wins 12 and Kirkland wins 10. 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 Kirkland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($172,700 vs $937,700 median home), income ($60,628 vs $135,608), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Amarillo, TX and Kirkland, WA are about 1,356 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.