Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Amarillo, TX
VS
Lincoln, NE
🏆 Amarillo leads 12 of 23 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
Lincoln
Nebraska
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.0
Median Household Income
$67,846 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
92 ✓ Safer
Population
290,531 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Amarillo, TX
Pros
Homes cost $58k less ($172,700 vs $230,400)
Milder winters — January highs near 51°F vs 36°F
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 Lincoln by $7,218/yr
Lincoln, NE
Pros
50% less violent crime than Amarillo
More college-educated — 40.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $7,218 more per year on average
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.0)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Amarillo
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 92.0 (100 = US avg)
Amarillo
Median Home Value
$58k less
$172,700 vs $230,400
Lincoln
Median Income
$7,218
$67,846 vs $60,628/yr
Lincoln
Violent Crime
50% lower
347.9 vs 690.5 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Amarillo, TX | Lincoln, NE |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper | 92.0 |
| Median Home Value | $172,700 ✓ Lower | $230,400 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $997 ✓ Lower | $998 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,628 | $67,846 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.5% | 3.3% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.5 min ✓ Shorter | 18.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% | 8.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 160⚠ High | 102⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 182⚠ High | 92 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 116⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B+ (106) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.2% | 40.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.1% | 92.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | AMARILLO ISD | LINCOLN PUBLIC SCHOOLS |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.7°F ✓ Warmer | 35.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F ✓ Warmer | 89.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.7" ✓ Drier | 30.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 17.2" ✓ Less | 26.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 200,360 | 290,531 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.4 ✓ Older | 33.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.6% ✓ Higher | 56.3% |
| Under 18 | 26.5% ✓ More | 22.0% |
| Over 65 | 14.5% ✓ More | 14.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Amarillo's cost of living index is 90.8 vs Lincoln's 92.0 (US average = 100).
Amarillo is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Amarillo leads 12 of 23 categories. Amarillo wins 12 and Lincoln 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 Lincoln or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($172,700 vs $230,400 median home), income ($60,628 vs $67,846), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Amarillo, TX and Lincoln, NE are about 478 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.