Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Amarillo, TX
VS
Norman, OK
🏆 Amarillo leads 13 of 23 categories
Amarillo
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,628
Violent Crime Index
182⚠ High
Population
200,360 ✓ Larger
Norman
Oklahoma
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0
Median Household Income
$62,849 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
68 ✓ Safer
Population
127,701
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Amarillo, TX
Pros
Homes cost $52k less ($172,700 vs $224,900)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (3.5%)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
Smaller class sizes — 14.5:1 student-teacher ratio
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
Norman, OK
Pros
62% less violent crime than Amarillo
Violent crime is well below the national average (260.2 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 45.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
Cons
Higher unemployment (5.8% vs 3.5%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Amarillo
Median Home Value
$52k less
$172,700 vs $224,900
Amarillo
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
3.5% vs 5.8% unemployment
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 90.8 on the COL index
Norman
Median Income
$2,221
$62,849 vs $60,628/yr
Norman
Violent Crime
62% lower
260.2 vs 690.5 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Amarillo, TX | Norman, OK |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper | 91.0 |
| Median Home Value | $172,700 ✓ Lower | $224,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $997 ✓ Lower | $1,004 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,628 | $62,849 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.5% ✓ Lower | 5.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.5 min ✓ Shorter | 22.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% | 9.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 160⚠ High | 84 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 182⚠ High | 68 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.2% | 45.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.1% | 94.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | AMARILLO ISD | NORMAN |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.7°F ✓ Warmer | 49.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F | 92.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.7" ✓ Drier | 37.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 17.2" | 4.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 200,360 ✓ Larger | 127,701 |
| Median Age | 34.4 ✓ Older | 31.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.6% ✓ Higher | 52.4% |
| Under 18 | 26.5% ✓ More | 18.1% |
| Over 65 | 14.5% ✓ More | 13.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Amarillo's cost of living index is 90.8 vs Norman's 91.0 (US average = 100).
Amarillo is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Amarillo leads 13 of 23 categories. Amarillo wins 13 and Norman wins 10. 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 Norman or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($172,700 vs $224,900 median home), income ($60,628 vs $62,849), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Amarillo, TX and Norman, OK are about 253 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.