Is Amarillo cheaper than Dallas?

Yes. Typical rent in Amarillo is $1,092 a month versus $1,472 in Dallas — 26% cheaper. Median household income is $65,912 in Amarillo compared with $70,518 in Dallas, so Dallas has the stronger local pay picture.

Which city is safer, Amarillo or Dallas?

Amarillo is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 32 versus 109 in Dallas — 71% lower (100 is the national average). Citywide indexes still hide neighborhood variation, so walk the block you would actually rent.

Which city has better schools, Amarillo or Dallas?

School composites are close: A- in Amarillo and A- in Dallas. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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City comparison

Amarillo, TX vs Dallas, TX

Amarillo, TX versus Dallas, TX is a real move, not a trivia matchup. This comparison uses the same 2026 neighborhood report data we publish on each city page — typical rent, median household income, crime indexes, school composites, and typical weather — so you can see which city actually fits how you live, work, and spend. Typical rents sit near $1,092 a month in Amarillo and $1,472 in Dallas, and median household income lands at $65,912 versus $70,518. Open either city's full report when you want the block-level detail behind these headlines.

Amarillo takes affordability, safety, and weather, while Dallas takes job market. The widest gap is crime index, where Amarillo leads by 71% — the kind of spread you feel in a monthly budget or a nightly walk, not just on a chart. Read the category rows as a filter: if cheaper housing would change your life more than a stronger job market, weight rent first. If you are moving with kids, weight schools and crime. If you picked a city after one good weekend, use the weather and income rows to test whether that weekend survives a full year.

Numbers below are citywide, not a guarantee about the street you will actually live on. Two ZIP codes in Amarillo can feel further apart than Amarillo and Dallas do on paper. Use this page to pick a city, then use the Amarillo and Dallas reports to pick a neighborhood — and visit in the season you like least before you sign anything.

Full Amarillo report Full Dallas report

Amarillo, TX

Rent: $1,092/mo
Median income: $65,912
Crime index: 32
Schools: A-
Weather: 79°F

Dallas, TX

Rent: $1,472/mo
Median income: $70,518
Crime index: 109
Schools: A-
Weather: 91°F

Rent

26% cheaper

Amarillo rent is 26% cheaper than Dallas

Amarillo

Winner

$1,092/mo

Dallas

$1,472/mo

What this means for your life

Typical rent runs $1,092 a month in Amarillo versus $1,472 in Dallas, so Amarillo is 26% cheaper. That's roughly $380/month back in your pocket — $4,560/year. Over five years that's $22,800 you could redirect toward a down payment, travel, or investments. Housing is the bill you pay before groceries, childcare, or a social life, so that gap shows up in how often you eat out and how panicked a rent hike feels. If you already have a high-paying offer in Dallas, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Amarillo is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.

Median income

7% higher

Dallas's median income is 7% higher than Amarillo

Amarillo

$65,912

Dallas

Winner

$70,518

What this means for your life

Median household income is $70,518 in Dallas versus $65,912 in Amarillo, so typical pay runs 7% higher in Dallas — about $4,606 more household income a year. The income edge is modest. Treat it as extra negotiating context, not a reason to ignore rent, schools, or climate. Remote workers especially should not treat citywide pay as a personal raise if their employer will not localize salary.

Crime index

71% lower crime

Amarillo's crime index is 71% lower than Dallas

Amarillo

Winner

32 (100 = avg)

Dallas

109 (100 = avg)

What this means for your life

Amarillo's crime index is 32 versus 109 in Dallas (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 71% lower in Amarillo. That gap is meaningful day-to-day — it affects whether you feel comfortable walking at night, leaving your car on the street, or letting kids play outside unsupervised. Indexes still compress a lot of reality: a calmer city has blocks you would skip, and a higher-crime city has streets that feel neighborly at 10 p.m. On the everyday test of walking from the car to the door, Amarillo is the easier city. Dallas can still work if you pick the right pocket — just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.

School scores

Neck and neck

Amarillo and Dallas are about even on school scores.

Amarillo

A- · 84/100

Dallas

A- · 84/100

What this means for your life

School composites are effectively even (A- in Amarillo, A- in Dallas). For families with kids this is a warning if you assumed one city was obviously better — at this range the campus, not the city name, decides it. Tour the zoned elementary you would actually use.

Typical weather

63% more comfortable

Amarillo weather is 63% more comfortable than Dallas

Amarillo

Winner

79°F typical

Dallas

91°F typical

What this means for your life

Amarillo scores 63% more comfortable on this page's weather index, which rewards temperatures closer to a livable outdoor day. Typical temperatures sit around 79°F in Amarillo and 91°F in Dallas. Amarillo reads as warm weather most of the year; Dallas reads as hot, long summers. Climate affects quality of life more than most people anticipate when planning a move. Consider how much time you spend outdoors and whether extreme heat or cold impacts your mood or productivity. Amarillo is the better default if you want year-round outdoor access. Dallas can still be right if you love that climate on purpose — beach heat, dry heat, or a real winter — but you cannot return a city's weather.

Fit check

Who should choose Amarillo

Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing

Amarillo is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 26% cheaper here at about $1,092 a month. Choose Amarillo if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.

Pick Amarillo if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (79°F) beat Dallas on this page's weather index by 63%. Dallas may pay more or cost less, but Amarillo is the city where the forecast fights you less.

Amarillo is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 71% lower than Dallas (32 vs a 100 national average). That gap shows up in how freely you walk at night and how much attention you spend on the car and the deadbolt.

Open the Amarillo report →

Fit check

Who should choose Dallas

Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth

Dallas is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 7% higher here ($70,518). Start with Dallas if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.

Open the Dallas report →

Bottom line

Amarillo vs Dallas, called

If safety is your priority, Amarillo is the clear choice.

If the job market matters more to you, Dallas pulls ahead.

For most movers comparing these two cities, Amarillo offers the better overall package.

Common questions

Amarillo vs Dallas FAQ

Is Amarillo cheaper than Dallas?: Yes. Typical rent in Amarillo is $1,092 a month versus $1,472 in Dallas — 26% cheaper. Median household income is $65,912 in Amarillo compared with $70,518 in Dallas, so Dallas has the stronger local pay picture.
Which city is safer, Amarillo or Dallas?: Amarillo is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 32 versus 109 in Dallas — 71% lower (100 is the national average). Citywide indexes still hide neighborhood variation, so walk the block you would actually rent.
Which city has better schools, Amarillo or Dallas?: School composites are close: A- in Amarillo and A- in Dallas. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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