Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Amarillo, TX
VS
Milwaukee, WI
🏆 Amarillo leads 18 of 23 categories
Amarillo
Texas
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,628 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
182⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
200,360
Milwaukee
Wisconsin
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.5
Median Household Income
$49,733
Violent Crime Index
377⚠ High
Population
573,299 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Amarillo, TX
Pros
52% less violent crime than Milwaukee
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.4 pts lower (3.5%)
Households earn $10,895 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 51°F vs 30°F
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
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
Milwaukee, WI
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 92°F
Cons
Violent crime (1430.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Amarillo by $10,895/yr
Property crime (2700.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.9% vs 3.5%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Amarillo
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 95.5 (100 = US avg)
Amarillo
Median Income
$10,895
$60,628 vs $49,733/yr
Amarillo
Violent Crime
52% lower
690.5 vs 1430.9 per 100k
Amarillo
Unemployment
2.4 pp lower
3.5% vs 5.9% unemployment
Amarillo
Summer Heat
9.2°F warmer
July avg high 92.0°F vs 82.8°F
Milwaukee
Median Home Value
$15k less
$157,800 vs $172,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Amarillo, TX | Milwaukee, WI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper | 95.5 |
| Median Home Value | $172,700 | $157,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $997 | $982 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,628 ✓ Higher | $49,733 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.5% ✓ Lower | 5.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.5 min ✓ Shorter | 22.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% | 9.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 160⚠ High ✓ Safer | 277⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 182⚠ High ✓ Safer | 377⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer | 129⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) ✓ Better | C (82) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.2% | 26.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.1% ✓ Higher | 85.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | AMARILLO ISD | Milwaukee School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.7°F ✓ Warmer | 29.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F ✓ Warmer | 82.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.7" ✓ Drier | 33.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 17.2" ✓ Less | 39.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 200,360 | 573,299 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.4 ✓ Older | 31.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.6% ✓ Higher | 41.2% |
| Under 18 | 26.5% ✓ More | 25.7% |
| Over 65 | 14.5% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Amarillo's cost of living index is 90.8 vs Milwaukee's 95.5 (US average = 100).
Amarillo is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Amarillo leads 18 of 23 categories. Amarillo wins 18 and Milwaukee wins 5. 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 Milwaukee or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($172,700 vs $157,800 median home), income ($60,628 vs $49,733), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Amarillo, TX and Milwaukee, WI are about 919 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.