Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Amarillo, TX
VS
Sterling Heights, MI
🏆 Amarillo leads 12 of 23 categories
Amarillo
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,628
Violent Crime Index
182⚠ High
Population
200,360 ✓ Larger
Sterling Heights
Michigan
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0
Median Household Income
$75,381 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
60 ✓ Safer
Population
133,744
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Amarillo, TX
Pros
Homes cost $71k less ($172,700 vs $243,400)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.4 pts lower (3.5%)
Rent averages $218/mo less ($997 vs $1,215)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 51°F vs 32°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
Median income trails Sterling Heights by $14,753/yr
Property crime (2655.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Sterling Heights, MI
Pros
67% less violent crime than Amarillo
Households earn $14,753 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (229.2 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 30.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 92°F
Cons
Higher unemployment (5.9% vs 3.5%)
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Amarillo
Key Differences at a Glance
Amarillo
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 98.0 (100 = US avg)
Amarillo
Median Home Value
$71k less
$172,700 vs $243,400
Amarillo
Unemployment
2.4 pp lower
3.5% vs 5.9% unemployment
Amarillo
Summer Heat
9.8°F warmer
July avg high 92.0°F vs 82.2°F
Sterling Heights
Median Income
$14,753
$75,381 vs $60,628/yr
Sterling Heights
Violent Crime
67% lower
229.2 vs 690.5 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Amarillo, TX | Sterling Heights, MI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper | 98.0 |
| Median Home Value | $172,700 ✓ Lower | $243,400 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $997 ✓ Lower | $1,215 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,628 | $75,381 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.5% ✓ Lower | 5.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.5 min ✓ Shorter | 26.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% | 11.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 160⚠ High | 56 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 182⚠ High | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 50 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B (99) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.2% | 30.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.1% | 87.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | AMARILLO ISD | Utica Community Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.7°F ✓ Warmer | 31.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F ✓ Warmer | 82.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.7" ✓ Drier | 34.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 17.2" ✓ Less | 32.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 200,360 ✓ Larger | 133,744 |
| Median Age | 34.4 | 41.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.6% | 76.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 26.5% ✓ More | 20.2% |
| Over 65 | 14.5% | 18.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Amarillo's cost of living index is 90.8 vs Sterling Heights's 98.0 (US average = 100).
Amarillo is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Amarillo leads 12 of 23 categories. Amarillo wins 12 and Sterling Heights wins 11. 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 Sterling Heights or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($172,700 vs $243,400 median home), income ($60,628 vs $75,381), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Amarillo, TX and Sterling Heights, MI are about 1,129 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.