Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Amarillo, TX
VS
Paterson, NJ
🏆 Amarillo leads 20 of 23 categories
Amarillo
Texas
20
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,628 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
182⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
200,360 ✓ Larger
Paterson
New Jersey
3
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$52,092
Violent Crime Index
258⚠ High
Population
157,864
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Amarillo, TX
Pros
Homes cost $141k less ($172,700 vs $314,100)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 7.0 pts lower (3.5%)
Rent averages $395/mo less ($997 vs $1,392)
29% less violent crime than Paterson
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Paterson
Households earn $8,536 more per year on average
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
Paterson, NJ
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 92°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $314,100
Higher rents — median is $1,392/mo
Violent crime (978.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 22% higher than Amarillo
Key Differences at a Glance
Amarillo
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Amarillo
Median Income
$8,536
$60,628 vs $52,092/yr
Amarillo
Violent Crime
29% lower
690.5 vs 978.6 per 100k
Amarillo
Median Home Value
$141k less
$172,700 vs $314,100
Amarillo
Unemployment
7.0 pp lower
3.5% vs 10.5% unemployment
Amarillo
Summer Heat
5.5°F warmer
July avg high 92.0°F vs 86.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Amarillo, TX | Paterson, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $172,700 ✓ Lower | $314,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $997 ✓ Lower | $1,392⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,628 ✓ Higher | $52,092 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.5% ✓ Lower | 10.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.5 min ✓ Shorter | 23.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% ✓ Higher | 3.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 160⚠ High ✓ Safer | 199⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 182⚠ High ✓ Safer | 258⚠ High |
| 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 | 14.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.2% ✓ Higher | 12.6% |
| High School or Higher | 86.1% ✓ Higher | 76.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | AMARILLO ISD | Paterson Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.7°F ✓ Warmer | 39.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F ✓ Warmer | 86.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.7" ✓ Drier | 49.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 17.2" ✓ Less | 28.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 200,360 ✓ Larger | 157,864 |
| Median Age | 34.4 ✓ Older | 33.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.6% ✓ Higher | 26.3% |
| Under 18 | 26.5% | 27.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.5% ✓ More | 11.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Amarillo's cost of living index is 90.8 vs Paterson's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Amarillo is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Amarillo leads 20 of 23 categories. Amarillo wins 20 and Paterson wins 3. 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 Paterson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($172,700 vs $314,100 median home), income ($60,628 vs $52,092), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Amarillo, TX and Paterson, NJ are about 1,549 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.