Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Amarillo, TX
VS
San Bernardino, CA
🏆 Amarillo leads 16 of 23 categories
Amarillo
Texas
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,628
Violent Crime Index
182⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
200,360
San Bernardino
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$61,323 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
236⚠ High
Population
221,041 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Amarillo, TX
Pros
Homes cost $174k less ($172,700 vs $347,100)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.1 pts lower (3.5%)
23% less violent crime than San Bernardino
Rent averages $322/mo less ($997 vs $1,319)
17% cheaper overall cost of living than San Bernardino
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
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
San Bernardino, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 51°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $347,100
Violent crime (897.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 17% higher than Amarillo
Property crime (2897.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Amarillo
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Amarillo
Violent Crime
23% lower
690.5 vs 897.1 per 100k
Amarillo
Median Home Value
$174k less
$172,700 vs $347,100
Amarillo
Unemployment
4.1 pp lower
3.5% vs 7.6% unemployment
San Bernardino
Median Income
$695
$61,323 vs $60,628/yr
San Bernardino
Summer Heat
3.4°F warmer
July avg high 95.4°F vs 92.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Amarillo, TX | San Bernardino, 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 | $347,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $997 ✓ Lower | $1,319 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,628 | $61,323 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.5% ✓ Lower | 7.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.5 min ✓ Shorter | 28.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% | 5.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 160⚠ High ✓ Safer | 197⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 182⚠ High ✓ Safer | 236⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer | 138⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) ✓ Better | C (81) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.2% ✓ Higher | 12.8% |
| High School or Higher | 86.1% ✓ Higher | 72.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | AMARILLO ISD | San Bernardino City Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.7°F | 66.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F | 95.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.7" ✓ Drier | 21.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 17.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 200,360 | 221,041 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.4 ✓ Older | 31.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.6% ✓ Higher | 48.9% |
| Under 18 | 26.5% | 27.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.5% ✓ More | 9.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Amarillo's cost of living index is 90.8 vs San Bernardino's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Amarillo is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Amarillo leads 16 of 23 categories. Amarillo wins 16 and San Bernardino wins 7. 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 San Bernardino or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($172,700 vs $347,100 median home), income ($60,628 vs $61,323), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Amarillo, TX and San Bernardino, CA are about 881 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.