Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Amarillo, TX
VS
Temecula, CA
🏆 Temecula leads 14 of 23 categories
Amarillo
Texas
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,628
Violent Crime Index
182⚠ High
Population
200,360 ✓ Larger
Temecula
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$111,881 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
40 ✓ Safer
Population
110,114
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Amarillo, TX
Pros
Homes cost $432k less ($172,700 vs $604,300)
Rent averages $1225/mo less ($997 vs $2,222)
Commutes run 18 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (3.5%)
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Temecula
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
Cons
Median income trails Temecula by $51,253/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
Temecula, CA
Pros
Households earn $51,253 more per year on average
78% less violent crime than Amarillo
Violent crime is well below the national average (151.5 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 38.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 51°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $604,300
Higher rents — median is $2,222/mo
Cost of living runs 17% higher than Amarillo
Higher unemployment (5.8% vs 3.5%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Amarillo
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Amarillo
Median Home Value
$432k less
$172,700 vs $604,300
Amarillo
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
3.5% vs 5.8% unemployment
Amarillo
Summer Heat
4.8°F warmer
July avg high 92.0°F vs 87.2°F
Temecula
Median Income
$51,253
$111,881 vs $60,628/yr
Temecula
Violent Crime
78% lower
151.5 vs 690.5 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Amarillo, TX | Temecula, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $172,700 ✓ Lower | $604,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $997 ✓ Lower | $2,222⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,628 | $111,881 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.5% ✓ Lower | 5.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.5 min ✓ Shorter | 36.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% | 14.3% ✓ 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 | 40 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 80 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B (97) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.2% | 38.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.1% | 93.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | AMARILLO ISD | Temecula Valley Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.7°F | 67.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F ✓ Warmer | 87.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.7" | 15.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 17.2" | 0.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 200,360 ✓ Larger | 110,114 |
| Median Age | 34.4 | 36.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.6% | 68.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 26.5% | 27.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.5% ✓ More | 11.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Amarillo's cost of living index is 90.8 vs Temecula's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Amarillo is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Temecula leads 14 of 23 categories. Amarillo wins 9 and Temecula wins 14. 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 Temecula or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($172,700 vs $604,300 median home), income ($60,628 vs $111,881), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Amarillo, TX and Temecula, CA are about 880 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.