Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Amarillo, TX
VS
Santa Clara, CA
🏆 Santa Clara 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 ✓ Larger
Santa Clara
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$165,352 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
48 ✓ Safer
Population
128,058
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Amarillo, TX
Pros
Homes cost $1268k less ($172,700 vs $1,440,200)
Rent averages $1844/mo less ($997 vs $2,841)
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Clara
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (3.5%)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
Cons
Median income trails Santa Clara by $104,724/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
Santa Clara, CA
Pros
Households earn $104,724 more per year on average
74% less violent crime than Amarillo
More college-educated — 64.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (182.0 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 92°F
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 51°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,440,200
Higher rents — median is $2,841/mo
Cost of living runs 22% higher than Amarillo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.9)
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
$1268k less
$172,700 vs $1,440,200
Amarillo
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
3.5% vs 4.2% unemployment
Amarillo
Summer Heat
11.2°F warmer
July avg high 92.0°F vs 80.8°F
Santa Clara
Median Income
$104,724
$165,352 vs $60,628/yr
Santa Clara
Violent Crime
74% lower
182.0 vs 690.5 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Amarillo, TX | Santa Clara, 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 | $1,440,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $997 ✓ Lower | $2,841⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,628 | $165,352 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.5% ✓ Lower | 4.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.5 min ✓ Shorter | 23.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% | 21.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 160⚠ High | 76 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 182⚠ High | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 119⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | A- (110) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.2% | 64.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.1% | 94.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | AMARILLO ISD | Santa Clara Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.7°F | 59.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F ✓ Warmer | 80.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.7" | 15.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 17.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 200,360 ✓ Larger | 128,058 |
| Median Age | 34.4 | 34.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.6% ✓ Higher | 41.9% |
| Under 18 | 26.5% ✓ More | 18.0% |
| Over 65 | 14.5% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Amarillo's cost of living index is 90.8 vs Santa Clara's 112.9 (US average = 100).
Amarillo is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Santa Clara leads 12 of 23 categories. Amarillo wins 11 and Santa Clara 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 Santa Clara or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($172,700 vs $1,440,200 median home), income ($60,628 vs $165,352), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Amarillo, TX and Santa Clara, CA are about 1,129 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.