Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Amarillo, TX
VS
West Valley City, UT
🏆 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
Population
200,360 ✓ Larger
West Valley City
Utah
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.7
Median Household Income
$81,719 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
138,868
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Amarillo, TX
Pros
Homes cost $161k less ($172,700 vs $333,600)
Rent averages $363/mo less ($997 vs $1,360)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (3.5%)
More college-educated — 25.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 51°F vs 39°F
Cons
Median income trails West Valley City by $21,091/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
West Valley City, UT
Pros
32% less violent crime than Amarillo
Households earn $21,091 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $333,600
Higher rents — median is $1,360/mo
Violent crime (469.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Snowy winters — about 52" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Amarillo
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 96.7 (100 = US avg)
Amarillo
Median Home Value
$161k less
$172,700 vs $333,600
Amarillo
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
3.5% vs 4.0% unemployment
West Valley City
Median Income
$21,091
$81,719 vs $60,628/yr
West Valley City
Violent Crime
32% lower
469.5 vs 690.5 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Amarillo, TX | West Valley City, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper | 96.7 |
| Median Home Value | $172,700 ✓ Lower | $333,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $997 ✓ Lower | $1,360⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,628 | $81,719 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.5% ✓ Lower | 4.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.5 min ✓ Shorter | 21.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% | 8.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 160⚠ High | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 182⚠ High | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 88 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) ✓ Better | C- (73) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.2% ✓ Higher | 15.8% |
| High School or Higher | 86.1% ✓ Higher | 83.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | AMARILLO ISD | Granite District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.7°F ✓ Warmer | 38.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F | 94.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.7" | 17.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 17.2" ✓ Less | 51.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 200,360 ✓ Larger | 138,868 |
| Median Age | 34.4 ✓ Older | 30.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.6% | 71.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 26.5% | 31.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.5% ✓ More | 9.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Amarillo's cost of living index is 90.8 vs West Valley City's 96.7 (US average = 100).
Amarillo is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Amarillo leads 14 of 23 categories. Amarillo wins 14 and West Valley City 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 West Valley City or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($172,700 vs $333,600 median home), income ($60,628 vs $81,719), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Amarillo, TX and West Valley City, UT are about 671 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.