Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Amarillo, TX
VS
Tucson, AZ
🏆 Tucson leads 13 of 23 categories
Amarillo
Texas
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,628 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
182⚠ High
Population
200,360
Tucson
Arizona
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.3
Median Household Income
$52,049
Violent Crime Index
155⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
541,033 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Amarillo, TX
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.0 pts lower (3.5%)
Homes cost $46k less ($172,700 vs $218,200)
Households earn $8,579 more per year on average
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
Cooler summers — July highs near 92°F vs 100°F
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
Tucson, AZ
Pros
15% less violent crime than Amarillo
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 51°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.3)
More college-educated — 29.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (588.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Amarillo by $8,579/yr
Property crime (3313.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.5% vs 3.5%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Amarillo
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 94.3 (100 = US avg)
Amarillo
Median Income
$8,579
$60,628 vs $52,049/yr
Amarillo
Median Home Value
$46k less
$172,700 vs $218,200
Amarillo
Unemployment
3.0 pp lower
3.5% vs 6.5% unemployment
Tucson
Violent Crime
15% lower
588.8 vs 690.5 per 100k
Tucson
Summer Heat
8.2°F warmer
July avg high 100.2°F vs 92.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Amarillo, TX | Tucson, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper | 94.3 |
| Median Home Value | $172,700 ✓ Lower | $218,200 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $997 | $991 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,628 ✓ Higher | $52,049 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.5% ✓ Lower | 6.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.5 min ✓ Shorter | 22.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% | 10.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 160⚠ High | 156⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 182⚠ High | 155⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer | 158⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B- (95) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.2% | 29.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.1% | 86.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | AMARILLO ISD | Tucson Unified District (4403) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.7°F | 66.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F | 100.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.7" | 12.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 17.2" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 200,360 | 541,033 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.4 ✓ Older | 33.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.6% ✓ Higher | 50.9% |
| Under 18 | 26.5% ✓ More | 20.2% |
| Over 65 | 14.5% | 15.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Amarillo's cost of living index is 90.8 vs Tucson's 94.3 (US average = 100).
Amarillo is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Tucson leads 13 of 23 categories. Amarillo wins 10 and Tucson wins 13. 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 Tucson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($172,700 vs $218,200 median home), income ($60,628 vs $52,049), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Amarillo, TX and Tucson, AZ are about 560 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.