Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Amarillo, TX
VS
Mesa, AZ
🏆 Mesa leads 15 of 23 categories
Amarillo
Texas
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,628
Violent Crime Index
182⚠ High
Population
200,360
Mesa
Arizona
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4
Median Household Income
$73,766 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
503,390 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Amarillo, TX
Pros
Homes cost $155k less ($172,700 vs $327,700)
Rent averages $355/mo less ($997 vs $1,352)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (3.5%)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 92°F vs 106°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
Median income trails Mesa by $13,138/yr
Property crime (2655.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Mesa, AZ
Pros
30% less violent crime than Amarillo
Households earn $13,138 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 51°F
More college-educated — 30.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $327,700
Higher rents — median is $1,352/mo
Violent crime (482.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (4.7% vs 3.5%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Amarillo
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 98.4 (100 = US avg)
Amarillo
Median Home Value
$155k less
$172,700 vs $327,700
Amarillo
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
3.5% vs 4.7% unemployment
Mesa
Median Income
$13,138
$73,766 vs $60,628/yr
Mesa
Violent Crime
30% lower
482.7 vs 690.5 per 100k
Mesa
Summer Heat
13.9°F warmer
July avg high 105.9°F vs 92.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Amarillo, TX | Mesa, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper | 98.4 |
| Median Home Value | $172,700 ✓ Lower | $327,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $997 ✓ Lower | $1,352⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,628 | $73,766 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.5% ✓ Lower | 4.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.5 min ✓ Shorter | 24.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% | 14.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 160⚠ High | 104⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 182⚠ High | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 70 ✓ 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% | 30.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.1% | 90.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | AMARILLO ISD | Mesa Unified District (4235) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.7°F | 67.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F | 105.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.7" | 9.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 17.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 200,360 | 503,390 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.4 | 36.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.6% | 63.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 26.5% ✓ More | 23.0% |
| Over 65 | 14.5% | 16.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Amarillo's cost of living index is 90.8 vs Mesa's 98.4 (US average = 100).
Amarillo is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Mesa leads 15 of 23 categories. Amarillo wins 8 and Mesa wins 15. 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 Mesa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($172,700 vs $327,700 median home), income ($60,628 vs $73,766), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Amarillo, TX and Mesa, AZ are about 577 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.