Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Amarillo, TX
VS
North Charleston, SC
🏆 Amarillo leads 16 of 23 categories
Amarillo
Texas
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,628 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
182⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
200,360 ✓ Larger
North Charleston
South Carolina
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.2
Median Household Income
$58,534
Violent Crime Index
213⚠ High
Population
115,755
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Amarillo, TX
Pros
Homes cost $71k less ($172,700 vs $243,300)
15% less violent crime than North Charleston
Rent averages $291/mo less ($997 vs $1,288)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (3.5%)
Commutes run 6 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
North Charleston, SC
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 51°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (810.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3955.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (4.3% vs 3.5%)
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Amarillo
Key Differences at a Glance
Amarillo
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 98.2 (100 = US avg)
Amarillo
Median Income
$2,094
$60,628 vs $58,534/yr
Amarillo
Violent Crime
15% lower
690.5 vs 810.5 per 100k
Amarillo
Median Home Value
$71k less
$172,700 vs $243,300
Amarillo
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
3.5% vs 4.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Amarillo, TX | North Charleston, SC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper | 98.2 |
| Median Home Value | $172,700 ✓ Lower | $243,300 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $997 ✓ Lower | $1,288 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,628 ✓ Higher | $58,534 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.5% ✓ Lower | 4.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.5 min ✓ Shorter | 24.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% | 6.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 160⚠ High ✓ Safer | 203⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 182⚠ High ✓ Safer | 213⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer | 188⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B (101) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.2% | 26.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.1% | 87.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | AMARILLO ISD | Charleston 01 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.7°F | 60.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F ✓ Warmer | 91.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.7" ✓ Drier | 53.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 17.2" | 0.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 200,360 ✓ Larger | 115,755 |
| Median Age | 34.4 ✓ Older | 33.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.6% ✓ Higher | 49.4% |
| Under 18 | 26.5% ✓ More | 23.0% |
| Over 65 | 14.5% ✓ More | 11.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Amarillo's cost of living index is 90.8 vs North Charleston's 98.2 (US average = 100).
Amarillo is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Amarillo leads 16 of 23 categories. Amarillo wins 16 and North Charleston wins 7. 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 North Charleston or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($172,700 vs $243,300 median home), income ($60,628 vs $58,534), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Amarillo, TX and North Charleston, SC are about 1,253 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.