Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Amarillo, TX
VS
Scottsdale, AZ
🏆 Scottsdale leads 16 of 22 categories
Amarillo
Texas
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,628
Violent Crime Index
182⚠ High
Population
200,360
Scottsdale
Arizona
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$104,197 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
40 ✓ Safer
Population
240,537 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Amarillo, TX
Pros
Homes cost $479k less ($172,700 vs $651,800)
Rent averages $771/mo less ($997 vs $1,768)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Scottsdale
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
Cooler summers — July highs near 92°F vs 99°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Scottsdale by $43,569/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
Scottsdale, AZ
Pros
Households earn $43,569 more per year on average
78% less violent crime than Amarillo
More college-educated — 61.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (152.5 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 64°F vs 51°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $651,800
Higher rents — median is $1,768/mo
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Amarillo
Hot summers — July highs average 99°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Amarillo
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 104.0 (100 = US avg)
Amarillo
Median Home Value
$479k less
$172,700 vs $651,800
Scottsdale
Median Income
$43,569
$104,197 vs $60,628/yr
Scottsdale
Violent Crime
78% lower
152.5 vs 690.5 per 100k
Scottsdale
Summer Heat
7.4°F warmer
July avg high 99.4°F vs 92.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Amarillo, TX | Scottsdale, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper | 104.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $172,700 ✓ Lower | $651,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $997 ✓ Lower | $1,768⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,628 | $104,197 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.5% | 3.5% |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.5 min ✓ Shorter | 21.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% | 26.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 160⚠ High | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 182⚠ High | 40 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | A- (116) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.2% | 61.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.1% | 97.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | AMARILLO ISD | Scottsdale Unified District (4240) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.7°F | 63.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F | 99.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.7" | 11.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 17.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 200,360 | 240,537 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.4 | 48.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.6% | 67.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 26.5% ✓ More | 14.3% |
| Over 65 | 14.5% | 25.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Amarillo's cost of living index is 90.8 vs Scottsdale's 104.0 (US average = 100).
Amarillo is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Scottsdale leads 16 of 22 categories. Amarillo wins 6 and Scottsdale wins 16. 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 Scottsdale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($172,700 vs $651,800 median home), income ($60,628 vs $104,197), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Amarillo, TX and Scottsdale, AZ are about 581 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.