Abilene vs Amarillo
The short version
- Overall prices are about the same in both metro areas (BEA 2024).
- The median home costs $183,700 in Abilene and $196,900 in Amarillo.
- Abilene has the warmer winter: January highs of 59°F vs 52°F.
- Amarillo gets far more snow: 17 inches a year vs 4.
- Abilene has more scorching days: 102 a year at 90°F or hotter vs 72.
- Abilene is growing faster: +5.3% since 2020 vs +2.4%.
- Commutes are shorter in Abilene (16 vs 20 minutes each way).
Side by side
| Abilene, TX | Amarillo, TX | |
|---|---|---|
| People | ||
| Population (2025) | 131,588 | 205,130 |
| Growth since 2020 | +5.3% | +2.4% |
| People per square mile | 1,234 | 1,980 |
| Median age | 32.8 | 35.1 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 27% | 27% |
| Money and housing | ||
| Median household income | $62,648 | $65,912 |
| Median home value | $183,700 | $196,900 |
| Home value to income | 2.9× | 3.0× |
| Median rent (with utilities) | $1,157 | $1,092 |
| Metro price level (US = 100) | 90.4 | 91.8 |
| Housing price level (US = 100) | 73.8 | 78.4 |
| $75,000 elsewhere equals | $67,800 | $68,900 |
| Homeowners | 56% | 60% |
| Top state income tax | None | None |
| Combined sales tax | 8.2% | 8.2% |
| Work and commute | ||
| Average commute (minutes) | 15.6 | 19.6 |
| Work from home | 8% | 7% |
| Take public transit | 0% | 1% |
| Unemployment (2020-24 avg) | 3% | 3.4% |
| Poverty rate | 16.1% | 15.8% |
| Weather | ||
| January high / low | 59° / 34° | 52° / 25° |
| July high / low | 96° / 73° | 93° / 66° |
| Precipitation per year | 25 in | 20 in |
| Snowfall per year | 4 in | 17 in |
| Days 90°F or hotter | 102 | 72 |
| Nights below freezing | 48 | 108 |
| Comfortable months | 4 | 4 |
| Risks, air and home prices | ||
| Natural hazard risk (FEMA, county) | Relatively Moderate | Relatively Moderate |
| FEMA risk score (lower is safer) | 83.8 | 90.5 |
| Good air days, 2025 | n/a | 78% |
| Home prices, past year | +9% | +3.1% |
| Home prices, past 5 years | +46.3% | +34% |
Highlighted cells are the better value where "better" is clear (lower prices, higher income, shorter commutes). Sources: Census Bureau 2025 estimates and ACS 2020-2024, BEA 2024, NOAA 1991-2020, Tax Foundation 2026.
Weather, month by month
Most comfortable months: Abilene: March to April and October to November. Amarillo: April to May and September to October.
Full monthly tables: Abilene weather by month and Amarillo weather by month.
What $75,000 is worth
A $75,000 salary in an average-priced US city buys about the same as $67,800 in Abilene and $68,900 in Amarillo. Moving from Abilene to Amarillo, you would need about $76,200 to match a $75,000 salary.
Which would you pick?
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