Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Amarillo, TX
VS
Pasadena, TX
🏆 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
Texas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,698 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
149⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
150,620
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Amarillo, TX
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.4 pts lower (3.5%)
Rent averages $162/mo less ($997 vs $1,159)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 25.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Pasadena
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
Median income trails Pasadena by $4,070/yr
Pasadena, TX
Pros
18% less violent crime than Amarillo
Milder winters — January highs near 64°F vs 51°F
Households earn $4,070 more per year on average
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (566.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (8.9% vs 3.5%)
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Amarillo
Key Differences at a Glance
Amarillo
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 100.2 (100 = US avg)
Amarillo
Unemployment
5.4 pp lower
3.5% vs 8.9% unemployment
Pasadena
Median Income
$4,070
$64,698 vs $60,628/yr
Pasadena
Violent Crime
18% lower
566.1 vs 690.5 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Amarillo, TX | Pasadena, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper | 100.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $172,700 | $171,600 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $997 ✓ Lower | $1,159 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,628 | $64,698 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.5% ✓ Lower | 8.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.5 min ✓ Shorter | 25.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% | 8.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 160⚠ High | 134⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 182⚠ High | 149⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.2% ✓ Higher | 15.9% |
| High School or Higher | 86.1% ✓ Higher | 73.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | AMARILLO ISD | PASADENA ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.7°F | 63.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F | 92.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.7" ✓ Drier | 57.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 17.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 200,360 ✓ Larger | 150,620 |
| Median Age | 34.4 ✓ Older | 32.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.6% ✓ Higher | 53.8% |
| Under 18 | 26.5% | 28.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.5% ✓ More | 11.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Amarillo's cost of living index is 90.8 vs Pasadena's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Amarillo is 9% 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 $171,600 median home), income ($60,628 vs $64,698), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Amarillo, TX and Pasadena, TX are about 546 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.