Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Amarillo, TX
VS
Thornton, CO
🏆 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 ✓ Larger
Thornton
Colorado
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$95,064 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
141,799
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Amarillo, TX
Pros
Homes cost $273k less ($172,700 vs $445,200)
Rent averages $761/mo less ($997 vs $1,758)
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Thornton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (3.5%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
Cons
Median income trails Thornton by $34,436/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
Thornton, CO
Pros
Households earn $34,436 more per year on average
60% less violent crime than Amarillo
More college-educated — 30.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $445,200
Higher rents — median is $1,758/mo
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Amarillo
Property crime (2835.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Amarillo
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Amarillo
Median Home Value
$273k less
$172,700 vs $445,200
Amarillo
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
3.5% vs 4.6% unemployment
Thornton
Median Income
$34,436
$95,064 vs $60,628/yr
Thornton
Violent Crime
60% lower
273.6 vs 690.5 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Amarillo, TX | Thornton, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper | 105.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $172,700 ✓ Lower | $445,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $997 ✓ Lower | $1,758⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,628 | $95,064 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.5% ✓ Lower | 4.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.5 min ✓ Shorter | 30.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% | 12.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 160⚠ High | 97 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 182⚠ High | 72 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer | 135⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B- (93) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.2% | 30.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.1% | 87.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | AMARILLO ISD | Adams 12 Five Star Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.7°F ✓ Warmer | 48.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F ✓ Warmer | 91.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.7" | 16.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 17.2" ✓ Less | 44.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 200,360 ✓ Larger | 141,799 |
| Median Age | 34.4 ✓ Older | 33.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.6% | 72.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 26.5% | 26.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.5% ✓ More | 10.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Amarillo's cost of living index is 90.8 vs Thornton's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Amarillo is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Amarillo leads 13 of 23 categories. Amarillo wins 13 and Thornton 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 Thornton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($172,700 vs $445,200 median home), income ($60,628 vs $95,064), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Amarillo, TX and Thornton, CO are about 368 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.