Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Amarillo, TX
VS
Naperville, IL
🏆 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 ✓ Larger
Naperville
Illinois
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$143,754 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
22 ✓ Safer
Population
149,089
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Amarillo, TX
Pros
Homes cost $310k less ($172,700 vs $482,600)
Rent averages $790/mo less ($997 vs $1,787)
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (3.5%)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Naperville
Milder winters — January highs near 51°F vs 33°F
Cons
Median income trails Naperville by $83,126/yr
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
Naperville, IL
Pros
Households earn $83,126 more per year on average
88% less violent crime than Amarillo
More college-educated — 70.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (83.7 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 92°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $482,600
Higher rents — median is $1,787/mo
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Amarillo
Higher unemployment (4.5% vs 3.5%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Amarillo
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Amarillo
Median Home Value
$310k less
$172,700 vs $482,600
Amarillo
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
3.5% vs 4.5% unemployment
Amarillo
Summer Heat
6.5°F warmer
July avg high 92.0°F vs 85.5°F
Naperville
Median Income
$83,126
$143,754 vs $60,628/yr
Naperville
Violent Crime
88% lower
83.7 vs 690.5 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Amarillo, TX | Naperville, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper | 102.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $172,700 ✓ Lower | $482,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $997 ✓ Lower | $1,787⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,628 | $143,754 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.5% ✓ Lower | 4.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.5 min ✓ Shorter | 32.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% | 23.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 160⚠ High | 30 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 182⚠ High | 22 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 42 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | A+ (135) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 | 13.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.2% | 70.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.1% | 97.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | AMARILLO ISD | Naperville CUSD 203 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.7°F ✓ Warmer | 32.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F ✓ Warmer | 85.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.7" ✓ Drier | 40.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 17.2" ✓ Less | 24.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 200,360 ✓ Larger | 149,089 |
| Median Age | 34.4 | 39.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.6% | 74.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 26.5% ✓ More | 24.8% |
| Over 65 | 14.5% ✓ More | 13.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Amarillo's cost of living index is 90.8 vs Naperville's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Amarillo is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Amarillo leads 12 of 23 categories. Amarillo wins 12 and Naperville 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 Naperville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($172,700 vs $482,600 median home), income ($60,628 vs $143,754), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Amarillo, TX and Naperville, IL are about 865 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.