Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Amarillo, TX
VS
Westminster, CA
🏆 Amarillo leads 12 of 23 categories
Amarillo
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,628
Violent Crime Index
182⚠ High
Population
200,360 ✓ Larger
Westminster
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$80,271 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
115⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
90,638
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Amarillo, TX
Pros
Homes cost $604k less ($172,700 vs $777,100)
Rent averages $980/mo less ($997 vs $1,977)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.0 pts lower (3.5%)
25% cheaper overall cost of living than Westminster
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
Cons
Violent crime (690.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Westminster by $19,643/yr
Property crime (2655.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Westminster, CA
Pros
37% less violent crime than Amarillo
Households earn $19,643 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 51°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 92°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $777,100
Higher rents — median is $1,977/mo
Cost of living runs 25% higher than Amarillo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Amarillo
Cost of Living
25% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Amarillo
Median Home Value
$604k less
$172,700 vs $777,100
Amarillo
Unemployment
4.0 pp lower
3.5% vs 7.5% unemployment
Amarillo
Summer Heat
9.5°F warmer
July avg high 92.0°F vs 82.5°F
Westminster
Median Income
$19,643
$80,271 vs $60,628/yr
Westminster
Violent Crime
37% lower
436.2 vs 690.5 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Amarillo, TX | Westminster, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $172,700 ✓ Lower | $777,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $997 ✓ Lower | $1,977⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,628 | $80,271 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.5% ✓ Lower | 7.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.5 min ✓ Shorter | 28.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% | 9.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 160⚠ High | 116⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 182⚠ High | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 119⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) ✓ Better | C- (72) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.2% | 26.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.1% ✓ Higher | 77.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | AMARILLO ISD | Westminster |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.7°F | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.7" | 12.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 17.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 200,360 ✓ Larger | 90,638 |
| Median Age | 34.4 | 41.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.6% ✓ Higher | 52.4% |
| Under 18 | 26.5% ✓ More | 21.2% |
| Over 65 | 14.5% | 17.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Amarillo's cost of living index is 90.8 vs Westminster's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Amarillo is 25% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Amarillo leads 12 of 23 categories. Amarillo wins 12 and Westminster wins 11. 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 Westminster or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($172,700 vs $777,100 median home), income ($60,628 vs $80,271), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Amarillo, TX and Westminster, CA are about 925 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.