Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Amarillo, TX
VS
San Jose, CA
🏆 San Jose leads 12 of 23 categories
Amarillo
Texas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,628
Violent Crime Index
182⚠ High
Population
200,360
San Jose
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$136,010 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
160⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
1,001,176 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Amarillo, TX
Pros
Homes cost $977k less ($172,700 vs $1,149,600)
Rent averages $1529/mo less ($997 vs $2,526)
22% cheaper overall cost of living than San Jose
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (3.5%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
Cons
Median income trails San Jose by $75,382/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
San Jose, CA
Pros
Households earn $75,382 more per year on average
12% less violent crime than Amarillo
More college-educated — 46.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 92°F
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 51°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,149,600
Higher rents — median is $2,526/mo
Violent crime (606.8/100k) 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 112.9 (100 = US avg)
Amarillo
Median Home Value
$977k less
$172,700 vs $1,149,600
Amarillo
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
3.5% vs 4.7% unemployment
Amarillo
Summer Heat
9.8°F warmer
July avg high 92.0°F vs 82.2°F
San Jose
Median Income
$75,382
$136,010 vs $60,628/yr
San Jose
Violent Crime
12% lower
606.8 vs 690.5 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Amarillo, TX | San Jose, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper | 112.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $172,700 ✓ Lower | $1,149,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $997 ✓ Lower | $2,526⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,628 | $136,010 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.5% ✓ Lower | 4.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.5 min ✓ Shorter | 28.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% | 16.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 160⚠ High | 145⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 182⚠ High | 160⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 123⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.2% | 46.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.1% ✓ Higher | 85.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | AMARILLO ISD | San Jose Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.7°F | 59.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F ✓ Warmer | 82.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.7" | 18.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 17.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 200,360 | 1,001,176 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.4 | 37.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.6% ✓ Higher | 55.8% |
| Under 18 | 26.5% ✓ More | 21.2% |
| Over 65 | 14.5% ✓ More | 13.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Amarillo's cost of living index is 90.8 vs San Jose's 112.9 (US average = 100).
Amarillo is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, San Jose leads 12 of 23 categories. Amarillo wins 11 and San Jose wins 12. 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 Jose or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($172,700 vs $1,149,600 median home), income ($60,628 vs $136,010), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Amarillo, TX and San Jose, CA are about 1,121 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.