Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Amarillo, TX
VS
New York, NY
🏆 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
New York
New York
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,607 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
177⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
8,622,467 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Amarillo, TX
Pros
Homes cost $559k less ($172,700 vs $732,100)
Rent averages $717/mo less ($997 vs $1,714)
Commutes run 23 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.1 pts lower (3.5%)
22% cheaper overall cost of living than New York
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 New York by $15,979/yr
Property crime (2655.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
New York, NY
Pros
Households earn $15,979 more per year on average
More college-educated — 40.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 92°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $732,100
Higher rents — median is $1,714/mo
Violent crime (671.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 22% higher than Amarillo
Key Differences at a Glance
Amarillo
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Amarillo
Median Home Value
$559k less
$172,700 vs $732,100
Amarillo
Unemployment
4.1 pp lower
3.5% vs 7.6% unemployment
Amarillo
Summer Heat
7.2°F warmer
July avg high 92.0°F vs 84.8°F
New York
Median Income
$15,979
$76,607 vs $60,628/yr
New York
Violent Crime
3% lower
671.0 vs 690.5 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Amarillo, TX | New York, NY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $172,700 ✓ Lower | $732,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $997 ✓ Lower | $1,714⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,628 | $76,607 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.5% ✓ Lower | 7.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.5 min ✓ Shorter | 41.1 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% | 13.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 160⚠ High | 151⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 182⚠ High | 177⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 113⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B+ (108) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 | 12.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.2% | 40.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.1% ✓ Higher | 83.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | AMARILLO ISD | NEW YORK CITY GEOGRAPHIC DISTRICT # 2 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.7°F ✓ Warmer | 39.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F ✓ Warmer | 84.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.7" ✓ Drier | 47.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 17.2" ✓ Less | 24.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 200,360 | 8,622,467 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.4 | 37.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.6% ✓ Higher | 32.9% |
| Under 18 | 26.5% ✓ More | 20.6% |
| Over 65 | 14.5% | 15.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Amarillo's cost of living index is 90.8 vs New York's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Amarillo is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Amarillo leads 12 of 23 categories. Amarillo wins 12 and New York 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 New York or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($172,700 vs $732,100 median home), income ($60,628 vs $76,607), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Amarillo, TX and New York, NY are about 1,559 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.