Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Amarillo, TX
VS
Washington, DC
🏆 Amarillo leads 14 of 23 categories
Amarillo
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,628
Violent Crime Index
182⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
200,360
Washington
District of Columbia
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$101,722 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
244⚠ High
Population
670,587 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Amarillo, TX
Pros
Homes cost $532k less ($172,700 vs $705,000)
Rent averages $820/mo less ($997 vs $1,817)
25% less violent crime than Washington
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.6 pts lower (3.5%)
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Washington
Cons
Median income trails Washington by $41,094/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
Washington, DC
Pros
Households earn $41,094 more per year on average
More college-educated — 62.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 10.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $705,000
Higher rents — median is $1,817/mo
Violent crime (925.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Amarillo
Key Differences at a Glance
Amarillo
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 108.6 (100 = US avg)
Amarillo
Violent Crime
25% lower
690.5 vs 925.9 per 100k
Amarillo
Median Home Value
$532k less
$172,700 vs $705,000
Amarillo
Unemployment
3.6 pp lower
3.5% vs 7.1% unemployment
Washington
Median Income
$41,094
$101,722 vs $60,628/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Amarillo, TX | Washington, DC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper | 108.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $172,700 ✓ Lower | $705,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $997 ✓ Lower | $1,817⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,628 | $101,722 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.5% ✓ Lower | 7.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.5 min ✓ Shorter | 30.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% | 25.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 160⚠ High ✓ Safer | 215⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 182⚠ High ✓ Safer | 244⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer | 171⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | A (119) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 | 10.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.2% | 62.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.1% | 92.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | AMARILLO ISD | District of Columbia Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.7°F ✓ Warmer | 44.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F ✓ Warmer | 89.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.7" ✓ Drier | 45.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 17.2" | 9.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 200,360 | 670,587 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.4 | 34.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.6% ✓ Higher | 41.4% |
| Under 18 | 26.5% ✓ More | 18.5% |
| Over 65 | 14.5% ✓ More | 12.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Amarillo's cost of living index is 90.8 vs Washington's 108.6 (US average = 100).
Amarillo is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Amarillo leads 14 of 23 categories. Amarillo wins 14 and Washington wins 9. 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 Washington or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($172,700 vs $705,000 median home), income ($60,628 vs $101,722), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Amarillo, TX and Washington, DC are about 1,388 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.