Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Amarillo, TX
VS
Ontario, CA
🏆 Amarillo leads 14 of 23 categories
Amarillo
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,628
Violent Crime Index
182⚠ High
Population
200,360 ✓ Larger
Ontario
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,070 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
176,326
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Amarillo, TX
Pros
Homes cost $340k less ($172,700 vs $513,000)
Rent averages $829/mo less ($997 vs $1,826)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (3.5%)
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Ontario
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 Ontario by $17,442/yr
Property crime (2655.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Ontario, CA
Pros
61% less violent crime than Amarillo
Households earn $17,442 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 51°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $513,000
Higher rents — median is $1,826/mo
Cost of living runs 17% higher than Amarillo
Higher unemployment (5.8% vs 3.5%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Amarillo
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Amarillo
Median Home Value
$340k less
$172,700 vs $513,000
Amarillo
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
3.5% vs 5.8% unemployment
Ontario
Median Income
$17,442
$78,070 vs $60,628/yr
Ontario
Violent Crime
61% lower
272.2 vs 690.5 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Amarillo, TX | Ontario, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $172,700 ✓ Lower | $513,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $997 ✓ Lower | $1,826⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,628 | $78,070 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.5% ✓ Lower | 5.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.5 min ✓ Shorter | 31.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% | 6.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 160⚠ High | 78 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 182⚠ High | 72 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 87 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) ✓ Better | C- (65) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.2% ✓ Higher | 19.2% |
| High School or Higher | 86.1% ✓ Higher | 76.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | AMARILLO ISD | Ontario-Montclair |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.7°F | 67.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.7" | 11.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 17.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 200,360 ✓ Larger | 176,326 |
| Median Age | 34.4 ✓ Older | 32.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.6% ✓ Higher | 55.7% |
| Under 18 | 26.5% ✓ More | 24.9% |
| Over 65 | 14.5% ✓ More | 10.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Amarillo's cost of living index is 90.8 vs Ontario's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Amarillo is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Amarillo leads 14 of 23 categories. Amarillo wins 14 and Ontario wins 9. 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 Ontario or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($172,700 vs $513,000 median home), income ($60,628 vs $78,070), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Amarillo, TX and Ontario, CA are about 899 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.