Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Amarillo, TX
VS
Lakeland, FL
🏆 Amarillo leads 12 of 23 categories
Amarillo
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,628 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
182⚠ High
Population
200,360 ✓ Larger
Lakeland
Florida
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.7⚠ High
Median Household Income
$58,290
Violent Crime Index
15 ✓ Safer
Population
114,404
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Amarillo, TX
Pros
Rent averages $220/mo less ($997 vs $1,217)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (3.5%)
Homes cost $35k less ($172,700 vs $207,800)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Lakeland
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
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
Lakeland, FL
Pros
92% less violent crime than Amarillo
Violent crime is well below the national average (56.0 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 74°F vs 51°F
Cons
Higher unemployment (5.4% vs 3.5%)
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Amarillo
Key Differences at a Glance
Amarillo
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 100.7 (100 = US avg)
Amarillo
Median Income
$2,338
$60,628 vs $58,290/yr
Amarillo
Median Home Value
$35k less
$172,700 vs $207,800
Amarillo
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
3.5% vs 5.4% unemployment
Lakeland
Violent Crime
92% lower
56.0 vs 690.5 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Amarillo, TX | Lakeland, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper | 100.7⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $172,700 ✓ Lower | $207,800 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $997 ✓ Lower | $1,217 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,628 ✓ Higher | $58,290 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.5% ✓ Lower | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.5 min ✓ Shorter | 23.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% | 8.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 160⚠ High | 15 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 182⚠ High | 15 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 17 ✓ 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 ✓ Smaller | 19.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.2% | 26.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.1% | 90.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | AMARILLO ISD | POLK |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.7°F | 73.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F | 92.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.7" ✓ Drier | 52.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 17.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 200,360 ✓ Larger | 114,404 |
| Median Age | 34.4 | 40.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.6% ✓ Higher | 54.8% |
| Under 18 | 26.5% ✓ More | 18.8% |
| Over 65 | 14.5% | 21.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Amarillo's cost of living index is 90.8 vs Lakeland's 100.7 (US average = 100).
Amarillo is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Amarillo leads 12 of 23 categories. Amarillo wins 12 and Lakeland 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 Lakeland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($172,700 vs $207,800 median home), income ($60,628 vs $58,290), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Amarillo, TX and Lakeland, FL are about 1,266 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.