Amarillo TX vs Oklahoma City OK — Cost of Living, Crime & Income Comparison 2026

Updated May 2026 · Source: US Census ACS 5-Year (2023), FBI CDE (2023), BLS OEWS (2024)

Amarillo, TX

Texas · Population: 200,945

  • Median HH Income$62,469
  • Median Home Price$208,517
  • Unemployment3.6%
  • Bachelor's+25.1%

Oklahoma City, OK

Oklahoma · Population: 688,693

  • Median HH Income$66,702
  • Median Home Price$207,961
  • Unemployment4.7%
  • Bachelor's+34.0%

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population
Amarillo
200,945
Oklahoma City
688,693
Oklahoma City +
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Amarillo
N/A
Oklahoma City
N/A
Median Age
Amarillo
35.0
Oklahoma City
35.0
Tie
Foreign Born
Amarillo
11.0%
Oklahoma City
12.0%
Oklahoma City +
White
Amarillo
68.0%
Amarillo +
Oklahoma City
58.4%
Black
Amarillo
7.4%
Oklahoma City
13.4%
Oklahoma City +
Asian
Amarillo
4.2%
Oklahoma City
4.5%
Oklahoma City +
Hispanic
Amarillo
33.7%
Amarillo +
Oklahoma City
21.7%
Spanish at Home
Amarillo
N/A
Oklahoma City
N/A

Economy

Median HH Income
Amarillo
$62,469
Oklahoma City
$66,702
Oklahoma City +
Per Capita Income
Amarillo
$35,133
Oklahoma City
$37,109
Oklahoma City +
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Amarillo
$63,758
Amarillo +
Oklahoma City
$57,929
Unemployment Rate
Amarillo
3.6%
Amarillo +
Oklahoma City
4.7%
Poverty Rate
Amarillo
15.8%
Oklahoma City
15.2%
Oklahoma City +
Bachelor's Degree+
Amarillo
25.1%
Oklahoma City
34.0%
Oklahoma City +

Housing

Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Amarillo
$208,517
Oklahoma City
$207,961
Oklahoma City +
Homeownership Rate
Amarillo
59.6%
Amarillo +
Oklahoma City
59.1%

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Amarillo
442
Oklahoma City
429
Oklahoma City +
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Amarillo
2339
Amarillo +
Oklahoma City
2375

Health

Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Amarillo
38.5%
Oklahoma City
38.3%
Oklahoma City +
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Amarillo
13.6%
Oklahoma City
12.6%
Oklahoma City +
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Amarillo
18.4%
Oklahoma City
17.8%
Oklahoma City +
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Amarillo
19.4%
Oklahoma City
14.0%
Oklahoma City +
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Amarillo
17.1%
Oklahoma City
14.6%
Oklahoma City +
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Amarillo
14.9%
Oklahoma City
14.9%
Tie

Climate

Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Amarillo
57.4°F
Oklahoma City
N/A
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Amarillo
20.4 in
Amarillo +
Oklahoma City
37.6 in

Air Quality

PM2.5 Annual Avg
EPA AQS (state-level est.)
Amarillo
9.2 µg/m³
Oklahoma City
8.8 µg/m³
Oklahoma City +
Good Air Days
AQI ≤ 50
Amarillo
55.0%
Oklahoma City
75.0%
Oklahoma City +

Commute

Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Amarillo
20.6 min
Amarillo +
Oklahoma City
23.6 min

Which City is Right for You?

Oklahoma City leads in median household income at $66,702, while oklahoma City offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $207,961. On public safety, Oklahoma City is safer with a violent crime rate of 429 per 100,000 residents, compared to 442 in Amarillo. Amarillo has a lower unemployment rate at 3.6%, and Oklahoma City has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 8.8 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Oklahoma City scores better with a lower obesity rate of 38.3%.

Compare More Cities

About Amarillo & Oklahoma City