Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Amarillo, TX
VS
Norwalk, CT
🏆 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
Norwalk
Connecticut
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$97,879 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
22 ✓ Safer
Population
91,050
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Amarillo, TX
Pros
Homes cost $319k less ($172,700 vs $491,800)
Rent averages $864/mo less ($997 vs $1,861)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.4 pts lower (3.5%)
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Norwalk
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 51°F vs 38°F
Cons
Median income trails Norwalk by $37,251/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
Norwalk, CT
Pros
88% less violent crime than Amarillo
Households earn $37,251 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (85.0 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 42.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 92°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $491,800
Higher rents — median is $1,861/mo
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Amarillo
Higher unemployment (5.9% vs 3.5%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Amarillo
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 106.5 (100 = US avg)
Amarillo
Median Home Value
$319k less
$172,700 vs $491,800
Amarillo
Unemployment
2.4 pp lower
3.5% vs 5.9% unemployment
Amarillo
Summer Heat
7.2°F warmer
July avg high 92.0°F vs 84.8°F
Norwalk
Median Income
$37,251
$97,879 vs $60,628/yr
Norwalk
Violent Crime
88% lower
85.0 vs 690.5 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Amarillo, TX | Norwalk, CT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper | 106.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $172,700 ✓ Lower | $491,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $997 ✓ Lower | $1,861⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,628 | $97,879 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.5% ✓ Lower | 5.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.5 min ✓ Shorter | 27.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% | 11.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 160⚠ High | 42 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 182⚠ High | 22 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 72 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | A- (113) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 | 12.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.2% | 42.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.1% | 88.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | AMARILLO ISD | Norwalk School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.7°F ✓ Warmer | 38.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F ✓ Warmer | 84.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.7" ✓ Drier | 51.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 17.2" ✓ Less | 34.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 200,360 ✓ Larger | 91,050 |
| Median Age | 34.4 | 40.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.6% ✓ Higher | 54.8% |
| Under 18 | 26.5% ✓ More | 19.4% |
| Over 65 | 14.5% | 15.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Amarillo's cost of living index is 90.8 vs Norwalk's 106.5 (US average = 100).
Amarillo is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Amarillo leads 12 of 23 categories. Amarillo wins 12 and Norwalk 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 Norwalk or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($172,700 vs $491,800 median home), income ($60,628 vs $97,879), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Amarillo, TX and Norwalk, CT are about 1,589 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.