Is Amarillo cheaper than Denver?

Yes. Typical rent in Amarillo is $1,106 a month versus $2,089 in Denver — 47% cheaper. Median household income is $60,628 in Amarillo compared with $85,853 in Denver, so Denver has the stronger local pay picture.

Which city is safer, Amarillo or Denver?

Amarillo is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 109 versus 137 in Denver — 20% 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 Denver?

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

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City comparison

Amarillo, TX vs Denver, CO

Amarillo, TX versus Denver, CO 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 $1,106 a month in Amarillo and $2,089 in Denver, and median household income lands at $60,628 versus $85,853. Open either city's full report when you want the block-level detail behind these headlines.

Amarillo takes affordability and safety, while Denver takes job market and weather. The widest gap is rent, where Amarillo leads by 47% — 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 Denver do on paper. Use this page to pick a city, then use the Amarillo and Denver reports to pick a neighborhood — and visit in the season you like least before you sign anything.

Full Amarillo report Full Denver report

Amarillo, TX

Rent: $1,106/mo
Median income: $60,628
Crime index: 109
Schools: A-
Weather: 86°F

Denver, CO

Rent: $2,089/mo
Median income: $85,853
Crime index: 137
Schools: A-
Weather: 82°F

Rent

47% cheaper

Amarillo rent is 47% cheaper than Denver

Amarillo

Winner

$1,106/mo

Denver

$2,089/mo

What this means for your life

Typical rent runs $1,106 a month in Amarillo versus $2,089 in Denver, so Amarillo is 47% cheaper. That's roughly $983/month back in your pocket — $11,796/year. Over five years that's $58,980 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 Denver, 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

42% higher

Denver's median income is 42% higher than Amarillo

Amarillo

$60,628

Denver

Winner

$85,853

What this means for your life

Median household income is $85,853 in Denver versus $60,628 in Amarillo, so typical pay runs 42% higher in Denver — about $25,225 more household income a year. Higher median income usually signals a stronger local job market and better negotiating leverage on salary. Remote workers should weigh this against cost of living rather than treating it as a direct personal benefit. For people who will actually work in town, Denver is the stronger labor market on paper. Amarillo can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.

Crime index

20% lower crime

Amarillo's crime index is 20% lower than Denver

Amarillo

Winner

109 (100 = avg)

Denver

137 (100 = avg)

What this means for your life

Amarillo's crime index is 109 versus 137 in Denver (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 20% 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. Denver 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 Denver are about even on school scores.

Amarillo

A- · 84/100

Denver

A- · 84/100

What this means for your life

School composites are effectively even (A- in Amarillo, A- in Denver). 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

17% more comfortable

Denver weather is 17% more comfortable than Amarillo

Amarillo

86°F typical

Denver

Winner

82°F typical

What this means for your life

Denver scores 17% more comfortable on this page's weather index, which rewards temperatures closer to a livable outdoor day. Typical temperatures sit around 86°F in Amarillo and 82°F in Denver. Amarillo reads as hot, long summers; Denver 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. Denver is the better default if you want year-round outdoor access. Amarillo 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

Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy

Amarillo is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 47% cheaper here at about $1,106 a month. Choose Amarillo if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.

Amarillo is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 20% lower than Denver (109 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 Denver

Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access

It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 42% higher ($85,853), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two — around 82°F. That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.

Open the Denver report →

Bottom line

Amarillo vs Denver, called

If cost of living is your priority, Amarillo is the clear choice.

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

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

Common questions

Amarillo vs Denver FAQ

Is Amarillo cheaper than Denver?: Yes. Typical rent in Amarillo is $1,106 a month versus $2,089 in Denver — 47% cheaper. Median household income is $60,628 in Amarillo compared with $85,853 in Denver, so Denver has the stronger local pay picture.
Which city is safer, Amarillo or Denver?: Amarillo is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 109 versus 137 in Denver — 20% 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 Denver?: School composites are close: A- in Amarillo and A- in Denver. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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