Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Amarillo, TX
VS
Spokane, WA
🏆 Amarillo leads 13 of 23 categories
Amarillo
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,628
Violent Crime Index
182⚠ High
Population
200,360
Spokane
Washington
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$63,316 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
178⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
227,922 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Amarillo, TX
Pros
Homes cost $114k less ($172,700 vs $286,900)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.7 pts lower (3.5%)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Spokane
Milder winters — January highs near 51°F vs 38°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
Cons
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
Median income trails Spokane by $2,688/yr
Spokane, WA
Pros
More college-educated — 32.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $2,688 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (674.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4840.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Amarillo
Higher unemployment (6.2% vs 3.5%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Amarillo
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 101.0 (100 = US avg)
Amarillo
Median Home Value
$114k less
$172,700 vs $286,900
Amarillo
Unemployment
2.7 pp lower
3.5% vs 6.2% unemployment
Amarillo
Summer Heat
4.9°F warmer
July avg high 92.0°F vs 87.1°F
Spokane
Median Income
$2,688
$63,316 vs $60,628/yr
Spokane
Violent Crime
2% lower
674.9 vs 690.5 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Amarillo, TX | Spokane, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper | 101.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $172,700 ✓ Lower | $286,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $997 ✓ Lower | $1,060 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,628 | $63,316 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.5% ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.5 min ✓ Shorter | 20.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% | 12.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 160⚠ High ✓ Safer | 199⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 182⚠ High | 178⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer | 231⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B (101) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.2% | 32.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.1% | 93.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | AMARILLO ISD | Spokane School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.7°F ✓ Warmer | 37.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F ✓ Warmer | 87.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.7" | 17.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 17.2" ✓ Less | 45.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 200,360 | 227,922 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.4 | 37.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.6% ✓ Higher | 57.5% |
| Under 18 | 26.5% ✓ More | 20.3% |
| Over 65 | 14.5% | 16.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Amarillo's cost of living index is 90.8 vs Spokane's 101.0 (US average = 100).
Amarillo is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Amarillo leads 13 of 23 categories. Amarillo wins 13 and Spokane wins 10. 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 Spokane or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($172,700 vs $286,900 median home), income ($60,628 vs $63,316), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Amarillo, TX and Spokane, WA are about 1,177 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.