Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Amarillo, TX
VS
Winston-Salem, NC
🏆 Amarillo leads 13 of 23 categories
Amarillo
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,628 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
182⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
200,360
Winston-Salem
North Carolina
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.4
Median Household Income
$54,416
Violent Crime Index
213⚠ High
Population
249,571 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Amarillo, TX
Pros
15% less violent crime than Winston-Salem
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.7 pts lower (3.5%)
Households earn $6,212 more per year on average
Commutes run 3 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
Property crime (2655.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Winston-Salem, NC
Pros
More college-educated — 35.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
Cons
Violent crime (809.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2921.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Amarillo by $6,212/yr
Higher unemployment (6.2% vs 3.5%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Amarillo
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 91.4 (100 = US avg)
Amarillo
Median Income
$6,212
$60,628 vs $54,416/yr
Amarillo
Violent Crime
15% lower
690.5 vs 809.7 per 100k
Amarillo
Median Home Value
$15k less
$172,700 vs $187,400
Amarillo
Unemployment
2.7 pp lower
3.5% vs 6.2% unemployment
Amarillo
Summer Heat
4.0°F warmer
July avg high 92.0°F vs 88.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Amarillo, TX | Winston-Salem, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper | 91.4 |
| Median Home Value | $172,700 ✓ Lower | $187,400 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $997 | $956 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,628 ✓ Higher | $54,416 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.5% ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.5 min ✓ Shorter | 21.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% | 10.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 160⚠ High ✓ Safer | 183⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 182⚠ High ✓ Safer | 213⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 | 14.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.2% | 35.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.1% | 87.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | AMARILLO ISD | Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.7°F ✓ Warmer | 48.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F ✓ Warmer | 88.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.7" ✓ Drier | 43.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 17.2" | 6.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 200,360 | 249,571 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.4 | 35.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.6% ✓ Higher | 53.9% |
| Under 18 | 26.5% ✓ More | 23.4% |
| Over 65 | 14.5% | 14.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Amarillo's cost of living index is 90.8 vs Winston-Salem's 91.4 (US average = 100).
Amarillo is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Amarillo leads 13 of 23 categories. Amarillo wins 13 and Winston-Salem 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 Winston-Salem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($172,700 vs $187,400 median home), income ($60,628 vs $54,416), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Amarillo, TX and Winston-Salem, NC are about 1,210 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.