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Moving. Simplified.
Considered as one of the best places to live and to do business in Texas, Amarillo is a great place to call your home. Situated just 123 miles north of Lubbock, the largest city in the Texas Panhandle is a perfect blend of rural and urban amenities.
A splendid city between the Lake Meredith National Recreation Area to the north and Palo Duro Canyon State Park to the south, Amarillo is well-known for its cowboy heritage. It also has the nicknames “Helium Capital of the World” and “Bomb City” due to its proximity to a nuclear weapons manufacturing and disassembly plant and helium fields. But fear not as this is not as scary you assume when you hear it for the first time.
Unlimited outdoor entertainment options back a thriving economy, plenty of jobs, and high-class education facilities.
And if you are keen to call Amarillo your next home, it is good to have an idea about the city in detail.
To help you, we’ve got the ultimate Amarillo moving guide that covers every detail about the city.
Our experts have researched thoroughly to get every detail about the safety, education, jobs, economy, taxes, fun options, and cost of living, and going through this will help you make a final call on a relocation plan.
Despite being a major economic center of Texas, Amarillo still retains its small-town vibe. And perhaps this makes Amarillo a favorite moving destination for families and retirees. There are plenty of jobs and the city also boasts of a highly competitive cost of living. In addition, there is also a strong sense of community living.
Tip: When you’ve got a home to move in Amarillo, TX, getting the best moving quote will be your goal.Request moving company quotes to save on moving cost.
Amarillo has one of the largest meat packing businesses in the US. The city produces around a quarter of the U.S. beef supply. Other major industries include health care, retail, agriculture, and manufacturing. The most common occupations include office and administrative, sales, and management.
Amarillo is the 12th most-populous in Texas with 200,393 residents. The Amarillo metropolitan area had an estimated population of 308,297. The city’s density is 1,948.81/sq mi and the median age is 34.1. The population is highly diverse in nature and as per the latest stats; the number of people per household in Amarillo is 2.6.
To know the population better, here are a few stats:
One of the best things about moving to Amarillo is the traffic. Despite being an economic center of the state, the roads are mostly free and you will reach the office and back home faster than the present city. On average, an Amarillo resident spends 17.7 minutes on the road which is shorter than the US average of 26.4 minutes.
If you are keen to know how the city residents reach the office regularly, here are the latest stats:
The city has a semi-arid climate with hot summers and cold winters with the average high temperature during the summer months ranging from the mid-80s to low 90s while average lows during winter drop into the 20s and 30s. Severe storms hit Amarillo annually.
Here are a few Amarillo weather facts:
You may ask why Amarillo is a hot moving destination in Texas. And trust us; the city has got its own reasons. We have filtered out 7 positives of the city.
While you seriously consider Amarillo as your next moving location, it is good to analyze both the merits and demerits and we’ve got the best and worst of the city. Take a look at both to gauge whether moving here is a good decision for you.
Here are the pros and cons of living in Amarillo, TX:
While you plan to relocate to Amarillo with the family, your concern will be to find a good house in a decent neighborhood. Fortunately, the Texas city has no shortage of neighborhoods within its boundaries and nearby. To help you, we’ve filtered out the best places to live here.
Here are the 10 best neighborhoods in Amarillo to rent or buy a house.
| Rank | Neighborhood | Home Value | Average Rental |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Colonies/Greenways | $633,288 | $1,666 |
| 2 | Wolfin South | $514,727 | $1,674 |
| 3 | Westline Rd / W Costley Rd | $493,534 | $2,191 |
| 4 | Quail Creek | $428,305 | $1,373 |
| 5 | Sleepy Hollow | $415,301 | $1,276 |
| 6 | Bushland | $349,400 | $1,676 |
| 7 | Puckett | $348,189 | $1,306 |
| 8 | West Hill Park | $340,943 | $1,426 |
| 9 | Wolfin | $335,771 | $1,794 |
| 10 | Hillside Terrace Estates | $319,906 | $1,693 |
One of the biggest pluses of Amarillo is the cost of living. The city’s living cost is 26.4% lower than the US average and 21.9% lower than the Texas average. Much of the amenities here are economic and you may stay here comfortably without robbing the bank. Maybe that’s a reason more prefer calling Amarillo their home.
Here is a break-up of the cost of living in Amarillo.
| Living expense | Amarillo | Texas | National average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 73.6 | 94.2 | 100 |
| Grocery | 91.7 | 93.7 | 100 |
| Health | 101.6 | 100.0 | 100 |
| Housing | 53.7 | 83.5 | 100 |
| Median home cost | $188,500 | $297,600 | $338,100 |
| Utilities | 93.7 | 99.2 | 100 |
| Transportation | 74.9 | 103.3 | 100 |
| Miscellaneous | 77.5 | 83.2 | 100 |
Amarillo records strong job growth that also contributes to the economy. If you are relocating to the city for a job reason, you are making the right decision. Jobs have increased by over 1.9% over the past year and are expected to further grow in the coming years. Meatpacking, health care, retail, agriculture, and manufacturing are prominent industries.
And we’ve got a few job-related facts in Amarillo, which may benefit you.
| Amarillo | United States | |
|---|---|---|
| Income per Cap | $30,474 | $37,638 |
| Household Income | $55,174 | $69,021 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.9% | 6% |
| Recent Job Growth | -3.2% | -6.2% |
| Future Job Growth | 31.5% | 33.51% |
Amarillo’s job market is growing every year and this helps you find a suitable job faster than most neighboring cities. With many offices and companies within the boundaries, it is easier to pick the best jobs in the city. To help you, we’ve researched and made a list of the 10 fastest-growing jobs in Amarillo.
| Rank | Job title | % Growth | Average salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nurse practitioner | 144.8% | $110,060 |
| 2 | Operations analyst | 142.6% | $81,110 |
| 3 | Rod buster | 139.1% | $44,110 |
| 4 | Cardiovascular technician | 135.4% | $56,110 |
| 5 | Forensic scientist | 126.1% | $53,220 |
| 6 | Biomedical engineer | 123.2% | $93,533 |
| 7 | Audiologist | 119.0% | $83,077 |
| 8 | Physical therapist | 117.8% | $97,766 |
| 9 | Phlebotomist | 114.4% | $31,156 |
| 10 | Assistant manager | 111.4% | $36,509 |
While you’re job hunting in Amarillo, the pay slip would be the priority. And knowing the best-paying jobs in the city would make things easier. Knowing this, we’ve prepared a list of top career options in the city.
Here are the highest-paying jobs in Amarillo
| Rank | Job title | Average salary | Entry level salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Physician | $250,702 | $134,000 |
| 2 | Assistant medical professor | $192,393 | $111,000 |
| 3 | Certified nurse anesthetist | $192,238 | $109,000 |
| 4 | General dentist | $142,729 | $96,000 |
| 5 | Dentist | $141,992 | $96,000 |
| 6 | Chief finance officer | $131,462 | $74,000 |
| 7 | Controls project manager | $123,411 | $80,000 |
| 8 | Pharmacist | $117,065 | $90,000 |
| 9 | Associate professor | $112,173 | $59,000 |
| 10 | Plant manager | $108,120 | $74,000 |
Amarillo is a growing city and while moving here for a job, you won't be disappointed. And if you are in the last leg of the moving process, it is natural to be curious about the major industries here. Knowing this, we’ve listed them out for you.
Amarillo has no shortage of good companies and relocating here, it is easier to join one that also promises a good working atmosphere. But which are those employee-friendly companies? We’ve got a list of the top 10 among them. Go through the m which will help you tweak the search list while you are looking for a job in Amarillo.
Here’s our best company list.
Salary is a vital factor that decides whether the place is good in terms of job. You are fortunate that Amarillo promises a decent average salary. The city is home to many prominent business houses and you will find one with a decent pay scale without much tough time. The average salary here is $55,174 and anything above $53k is good enough to comfortably live.
Here are a few informative points related to the average salary and income in Amarillo.
The housing cost in Amarillo reflects the low cost of living. Here, you can comfortably own a house by shelling out $188,500 which is significantly lower than the US median at $338,100. Over the past year, house values have increased by 9.35%, higher than the national appreciation rate of 8.27%. Once you are here, it is easier to buy a house than anywhere in Texas.
We’ve got the latest city housing facts for you.
After you reach Amarillo, your first few months, or maybe the initial years would be at rented homes. You will be happy to know that just as home prices, even home rentals are cheaper here. We’ve researched the average home rental in the city and the details may help you.
While you consider the earnings, taxes play a major role. Your takeaway is based on how much the authorities cut from the amount on the pay slip. Knowing this is crucial in deciding whether you need to relocate to Amarillo. Here are the major tax factors in Amarillo.
Amarillo has a rich history and vibrant culture and the fusion of both will keep you busy during your days here. The city has many outdoor recreation options while it also retains its old cowboy vibes.
We’ve got a list of the 10 best things to do in Amarillo.
The crime rate in Amarillo is higher than the national average, but about 61% of the residents feel completely safe here. The city has a violent crime rate of 36.0 and the average property crime rate is 63.2. As per the crime statistics, the city is safer than 4% of US cities.
To help you know the crime stats in Amarillo, we’ve got a few facts.
Amarillo ranks high in education and is also home to many top-ranking schools and colleges. This rescues you from the anguish about your child’s education while relocating to the city with the family. And to help you, we’ve collated the best ones here.
Hillside Elementary School
Public, K-5 | 591 students | 9/10
Belmar Elementary School
Public, K-5 | 332 students | 9/10
Paramount Terrace Elementary School
Public, K-5 | 363 students | 8/10
Pleasant Valley Elementary School
Public, K-5 | 239 students | 8/10
Windsor Elementary School
Public, K-5 | 463 students | 8/10
Lorenzo De Zavala Middle School
Public, 5-8 | 416 students | 8/10
Bonham Middle School
Public, 6-8 | 893 students | 8/10
Austin Middle School
Public, 6-9 | 780 students | 7/10
Crockett Middle School
Private, 6-8 | 879 students | 7/10
River Road Middle School
Public, 6-8 | 337 students | 7/10
Highland Park High School
Public, 9-12 | 243 students | 9/10
Randall High School
Public, 9-12 | 1,736 students | 8/10
Amarillo High School
Public, 9-12 | 2,164 students | 7/10
Caprock High School
Public, 9-12 | 2,256 students | 6/10
River Road High School
Public, 9-12 | 406 students | 5/10
Amarillo College
Texas A&M University
Milan Institute - Amarillo
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