Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Amarillo, TX
VS
Simi Valley, CA
🏆 Simi Valley leads 15 of 23 categories
Amarillo
Texas
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,628
Violent Crime Index
182⚠ High
Population
200,360 ✓ Larger
Simi Valley
California
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$112,144 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
34 ✓ Safer
Population
126,153
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Amarillo, TX
Pros
Homes cost $532k less ($172,700 vs $704,200)
Rent averages $1405/mo less ($997 vs $2,402)
23% cheaper overall cost of living than Simi Valley
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (3.5%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
Cons
Median income trails Simi Valley by $51,516/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
Simi Valley, CA
Pros
Households earn $51,516 more per year on average
81% less violent crime than Amarillo
Violent crime is well below the national average (129.1 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 36.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 51°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $704,200
Higher rents — median is $2,402/mo
Cost of living runs 23% higher than Amarillo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.5)
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
$532k less
$172,700 vs $704,200
Amarillo
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
3.5% vs 4.4% unemployment
Simi Valley
Median Income
$51,516
$112,144 vs $60,628/yr
Simi Valley
Violent Crime
81% lower
129.1 vs 690.5 per 100k
Simi Valley
Summer Heat
3.1°F warmer
July avg high 95.1°F vs 92.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Amarillo, TX | Simi Valley, 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 | $704,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $997 ✓ Lower | $2,402⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,628 | $112,144 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.5% ✓ Lower | 4.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.5 min ✓ Shorter | 28.4 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% | 14.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 160⚠ High | 38 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 182⚠ High | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 44 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B- (94) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.2% | 36.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.1% | 91.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | AMARILLO ISD | Simi Valley Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.7°F | 69.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F | 95.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.7" | 17.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 17.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 200,360 ✓ Larger | 126,153 |
| Median Age | 34.4 | 41.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.6% | 72.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 26.5% ✓ More | 20.2% |
| Over 65 | 14.5% | 16.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Amarillo's cost of living index is 90.8 vs Simi Valley's 113.5 (US average = 100).
Amarillo is 23% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Simi Valley leads 15 of 23 categories. Amarillo wins 8 and Simi Valley wins 15. 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 Simi Valley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($172,700 vs $704,200 median home), income ($60,628 vs $112,144), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Amarillo, TX and Simi Valley, CA are about 962 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.