Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Amarillo, TX
VS
Modesto, CA
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Amarillo
Texas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,628
Violent Crime Index
182⚠ High
Population
200,360
Modesto
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,375 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
173⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
218,308 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Amarillo, TX
Pros
Homes cost $209k less ($172,700 vs $381,800)
Rent averages $500/mo less ($997 vs $1,497)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.3 pts lower (3.5%)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Modesto
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 Modesto by $12,747/yr
Property crime (2655.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Modesto, CA
Pros
5% less violent crime than Amarillo
Households earn $12,747 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 51°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $381,800
Higher rents — median is $1,497/mo
Violent crime (655.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Amarillo
Key Differences at a Glance
Amarillo
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 105.0 (100 = US avg)
Amarillo
Median Home Value
$209k less
$172,700 vs $381,800
Amarillo
Unemployment
4.3 pp lower
3.5% vs 7.8% unemployment
Modesto
Median Income
$12,747
$73,375 vs $60,628/yr
Modesto
Violent Crime
5% lower
655.7 vs 690.5 per 100k
Modesto
Summer Heat
3.0°F warmer
July avg high 95.0°F vs 92.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Amarillo, TX | Modesto, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper | 105.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $172,700 ✓ Lower | $381,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $997 ✓ Lower | $1,497⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,628 | $73,375 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.5% ✓ Lower | 7.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.5 min ✓ Shorter | 29.4 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% | 6.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 160⚠ High | 150⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 182⚠ High | 173⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) ✓ Better | C- (65) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.2% ✓ Higher | 19.7% |
| High School or Higher | 86.1% ✓ Higher | 83.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | AMARILLO ISD | Modesto City Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.7°F | 56.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F | 95.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.7" | 12.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 17.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 200,360 | 218,308 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.4 | 34.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.6% ✓ Higher | 57.7% |
| Under 18 | 26.5% | 26.5% |
| Over 65 | 14.5% ✓ More | 13.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Amarillo's cost of living index is 90.8 vs Modesto's 105.0 (US average = 100).
Amarillo is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Amarillo wins 11 and Modesto 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 Modesto or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($172,700 vs $381,800 median home), income ($60,628 vs $73,375), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Amarillo, TX and Modesto, CA are about 1,077 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.