Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Amarillo, TX
VS
Las Vegas, NV
🏆 Las Vegas leads 13 of 23 categories
Amarillo
Texas
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,628
Violent Crime Index
182⚠ High
Population
200,360
Las Vegas
Nevada
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$66,356 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
113⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
644,835 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Amarillo, TX
Pros
Homes cost $193k less ($172,700 vs $365,300)
Rent averages $359/mo less ($997 vs $1,356)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.9 pts lower (3.5%)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Las Vegas
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
Median income trails Las Vegas by $5,728/yr
Las Vegas, NV
Pros
38% less violent crime than Amarillo
Households earn $5,728 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 51°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $365,300
Higher rents — median is $1,356/mo
Property crime (2622.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Amarillo
Key Differences at a Glance
Amarillo
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 101.6 (100 = US avg)
Amarillo
Median Home Value
$193k less
$172,700 vs $365,300
Amarillo
Unemployment
3.9 pp lower
3.5% vs 7.4% unemployment
Las Vegas
Median Income
$5,728
$66,356 vs $60,628/yr
Las Vegas
Violent Crime
38% lower
429.8 vs 690.5 per 100k
Las Vegas
Summer Heat
11.8°F warmer
July avg high 103.8°F vs 92.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Amarillo, TX | Las Vegas, NV |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper | 101.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $172,700 ✓ Lower | $365,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $997 ✓ Lower | $1,356⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,628 | $66,356 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.5% ✓ Lower | 7.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.5 min ✓ Shorter | 25.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% | 9.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 160⚠ High | 118⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 182⚠ High | 113⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 125⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 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 | 18.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.2% | 26.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.1% ✓ Higher | 85.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | AMARILLO ISD | Clark County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.7°F | 58.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F | 103.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.7" | 6.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 17.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 200,360 | 644,835 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.4 | 38.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.6% ✓ Higher | 54.8% |
| Under 18 | 26.5% ✓ More | 22.9% |
| Over 65 | 14.5% | 15.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Amarillo's cost of living index is 90.8 vs Las Vegas's 101.6 (US average = 100).
Amarillo is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Las Vegas leads 13 of 23 categories. Amarillo wins 10 and Las Vegas wins 13. 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 Las Vegas or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($172,700 vs $365,300 median home), income ($60,628 vs $66,356), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Amarillo, TX and Las Vegas, NV are about 756 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.