Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Amarillo, TX
VS
Pasadena, CA
🏆 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
Pasadena
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$97,818 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
126⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
137,554
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Amarillo, TX
Pros
Homes cost $809k less ($172,700 vs $981,600)
Rent averages $1103/mo less ($997 vs $2,100)
25% cheaper overall cost of living than Pasadena
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (3.5%)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
Cons
Median income trails Pasadena by $37,190/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
Pasadena, CA
Pros
Households earn $37,190 more per year on average
30% less violent crime than Amarillo
More college-educated — 54.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 51°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $981,600
Higher rents — median is $2,100/mo
Violent crime (480.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 25% higher than Amarillo
Key Differences at a Glance
Amarillo
Cost of Living
25% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Amarillo
Median Home Value
$809k less
$172,700 vs $981,600
Amarillo
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
3.5% vs 5.2% unemployment
Pasadena
Median Income
$37,190
$97,818 vs $60,628/yr
Pasadena
Violent Crime
30% lower
480.4 vs 690.5 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Amarillo, TX | Pasadena, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $172,700 ✓ Lower | $981,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $997 ✓ Lower | $2,100⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,628 | $97,818 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.5% ✓ Lower | 5.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.5 min ✓ Shorter | 27.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% | 20.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 160⚠ High | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 182⚠ High | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer | 128⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B+ (105) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.2% | 54.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.1% | 89.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | AMARILLO ISD | Pasadena Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.7°F | 68.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F ✓ Warmer | 89.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.7" ✓ Drier | 20.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 17.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 200,360 ✓ Larger | 137,554 |
| Median Age | 34.4 | 39.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.6% ✓ Higher | 42.1% |
| Under 18 | 26.5% ✓ More | 17.0% |
| Over 65 | 14.5% | 16.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Amarillo's cost of living index is 90.8 vs Pasadena's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Amarillo is 25% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Amarillo leads 12 of 23 categories. Amarillo wins 12 and Pasadena 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 Pasadena or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($172,700 vs $981,600 median home), income ($60,628 vs $97,818), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Amarillo, TX and Pasadena, CA are about 928 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.