Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Amarillo, TX
VS
Santa Maria, CA
🏆 Amarillo leads 14 of 22 categories
Amarillo
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,628
Violent Crime Index
182⚠ High
Population
200,360 ✓ Larger
Santa Maria
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$81,237 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
174⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
109,543
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Amarillo, TX
Pros
Homes cost $265k less ($172,700 vs $438,100)
Rent averages $771/mo less ($997 vs $1,768)
23% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Maria
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.8 pts lower (3.5%)
More college-educated — 25.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Santa Maria by $20,609/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 Maria, CA
Pros
Households earn $20,609 more per year on average
4% less violent crime than Amarillo
Cooler summers — July highs near 73°F vs 92°F
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 51°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $438,100
Higher rents — median is $1,768/mo
Violent crime (660.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 23% higher than Amarillo
Key Differences at a Glance
Amarillo
Cost of Living
23% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
Amarillo
Median Home Value
$265k less
$172,700 vs $438,100
Amarillo
Unemployment
2.8 pp lower
3.5% vs 6.3% unemployment
Amarillo
Summer Heat
18.7°F warmer
July avg high 92.0°F vs 73.3°F
Santa Maria
Median Income
$20,609
$81,237 vs $60,628/yr
Santa Maria
Violent Crime
4% lower
660.6 vs 690.5 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Amarillo, TX | Santa Maria, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper | 113.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $172,700 ✓ Lower | $438,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $997 ✓ Lower | $1,768⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,628 | $81,237 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.5% ✓ Lower | 6.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.5 min ✓ Shorter | 22.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% | 4.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 160⚠ High | 140⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 182⚠ High | 174⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 90 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) ✓ Better | C- (62) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.2% ✓ Higher | 14.5% |
| High School or Higher | 86.1% ✓ Higher | 63.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | AMARILLO ISD | Santa Maria-Bonita |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.7°F | 64.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F ✓ Warmer | 73.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.7" | 13.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 17.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 200,360 ✓ Larger | 109,543 |
| Median Age | 34.4 ✓ Older | 29.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.6% ✓ Higher | 51.2% |
| Under 18 | 26.5% | 31.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.5% ✓ More | 10.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Amarillo's cost of living index is 90.8 vs Santa Maria's 113.5 (US average = 100).
Amarillo is 23% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Amarillo leads 14 of 22 categories. Amarillo wins 14 and Santa Maria wins 8. 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 Maria or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($172,700 vs $438,100 median home), income ($60,628 vs $81,237), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Amarillo, TX and Santa Maria, CA are about 1,051 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.