Is Amarillo Texas a Good Place to Live?

The city of Amarillo was once the “Helium Capital of the World” because of its abundant Helium fields. The city is located in the Llano Estacado region and with a population of 200,000 as of 2017, is the 14th highest populated city in Texas. Amarillo is home to some of the largest meatpacking facilities in the country. If you are moving to Amarillo be prepared to hear the city referred to as “Bomb City” because it has the only nuclear weapons assembly and disassembly facility in the country. Amarillo also has the second largest canyon system in the USA.

Is Amarillo a good place to live? Living in Amarillo involves living in a city with dry, cool weather. The cost of living in the city is low but so is the safety level. The city is quite isolated and the setting is not that attractive. You will easily find a job and the real estate prices are low.

If you thought the steak was a big thing in Texas then moving to Amarillo will be even more surprising. The cattle industry in Amarillo is humongous. You should also know to what degree Amarillo is cowboy country and the answer is a lot. The cowboys and the rest of the city’s residents are rough in stature but soft at heart. The city of Amarillo is undergoing substantial renovation with the economy getting more diversified. The geological features of Amarillo are unique and you will always appreciate being outside on a summer day.

In this article you will find out:

Is Amarillo a good place to live? Prons & Cons:

Amarillo is one of the biggest cities in Texas and you can expect to find all types of neighborhoods while living in the city. There are neither completely bad areas nor any completely good areas in Amarillo. Living in Amarillo will reveal pockets of destitution and pockets of affluence as well. The good neighborhoods in Amarillo include Canyon, Puckett, Sleepy Hollow, South Park, The Colonies, City View, Bishop Hills, Tascosa Road, Broadway, Lake Tanglewood, McCormick Road and South Georgia. Bad neighborhoods in Amarillo include Maverick Street, Front Boulevard, E. Hastings Drive, Western Plaza, S. Georgia Street and Amarillo Boulevard.

The overall crime rate in Amarillo is quite high especially in the impoverished sections of the city. 14 crimes occur every day for every 100,000 residents. The city experiences 52 crimes per a thousand residents which is 87% higher than the average national crime rate. Only 3% of the communities in Texas and 6% of cities in America have a higher crime rate than Amarillo. The chances of you falling victim to a crime in the city are 1 in 19. Insurance for any of your valuables is highly advised. Amarillo has one of the highest violent crime rates in the country and it is almost double the average national violent crime rate.

Public primary and secondary education in Amarillo are mainly operated by the Amarillo Independent School District (AISD) and Canyon Independent School District. (CISD). The former has over 30,000 students while the latter has over 10,000 students. Other school districts in the city are River Road, Bushland, and Highland Park. Private schools in Amarillo are largely religiously affiliated. Amarillo Collegiate Academy is the only charter school in the city. Tertiary education institutions in the city include Amarillo Community College, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center at Amarillo Jerry H. Hodge School of Pharmacy and School of Health Professions, a Wayland Baptist University campus, a Texas Tech University campus and a West Texas A&M University campus.

The main public airport in Amarillo is Rick Husband Amarillo International Airport 10 miles from Amarillo’s CBD. There are also two public general aviation airports in Amarillo namely Tradewind Airport and Buffalo Airport. Public transport in the city is provided by Amarillo City Transit which offers bus services to over 350,000 passengers per year. There is no passenger train service in Amarillo. The BNSF Railroad and the Union Pacific Railroad operate a lot of freight trains in and out of Amarillo. Amarillo is connected to two interstate highways: I-27 and I-40. U.S Highway 66 also passes through the city.

The social life of Amarillo residents often involves the outdoors. You can go hiking in the second largest canyon in the country or go visit one of the city’s parks. If you are a fan of the performing arts, the Globe – News Center always has an event. Amarillo regularly has events and attractions to honor the cowboy culture in Texas. You can also go to college sports games or any of the museums in town.

Is Amarillo a good place to work?

The median income per household in Amarillo is about $50,000 per year. The average annual income per person is $26,000 which is well below the national average annual income per capita. The silver lining in the dark cloud that is Amarillo’s job market is that unemployment is 2.9%, a substantial degree below the national unemployment rate.

The meatpacking industry deserves credit for being the main industry employing residents of Amarillo. Almost 25% of the meat in America’s beef is packaged in Amarillo. The largest employers in Amarillo include Amarillo Independent School District, Tyson Foods Inc., B&W Pantex, Baptist St. Anthony’s Health Care Systems, the City of Amarillo, Northwest Texas Healthcare System, Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Wal-Mart, Affiliated Foods, Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc., VA Medical Center, Amarillo and Xcel Energy.

Is Amarillo a good place to buy a house?

Amarillo has received credit from the Niche for being the 20th best place to buy a house in America. The average home price in Amarillo is around $125,000. Homeownership in the city stands at 61% with the mortgage being the preferred avenue of homeownership. The 39% who rent their property pay an average of the average rent per month in Amarillo is $850.

Good neighborhoods in Amarillo include Canyon, Puckett, Sleepy Hollow, South Park, The Colonies, City View, Bishop Hills, Tascosa Road, Broadway, Lake Tanglewood, McCormick Road and South Georgia. Bad neighborhoods in Amarillo include Maverick Street, Front Boulevard, E. Hastings Drive, Western Plaza, S. Georgia Street and Amarillo Boulevard.

The average cost of renting a one-bedroom apartment in Amarillo is $750 per month. The average cost of renting a two-bedroom apartment is $995 per month. The average cost of renting a three-bedroom apartment is $1340. The average cost of renting a four-bedroom apartment is $1,600. The average cost of renting a five-bedroom apartment is $1,910.

The mean price of a one-bedroom house in Amarillo is $125,600. The mean price of a two-bedroom house is $166,800. The mean price of a three-bedroom price is $199,350. The mean price of a four-bedroom house is $236,440. The mean price for a five-bedroom property is $277,450.

Is Amarillo a good place to retire?

There are plenty of reasons for an expat to retire in Amarillo, Texas. The weather is good almost all year round for starters. Another reason is the cost of living is low which should enable retirees to further stretch their retirement funds. There are also no income taxes in Amarillo.

Good neighborhoods in Amarillo include Canyon, Puckett, Sleepy Hollow, South Park, The Colonies, City View, Bishop Hills, Tascosa Road, Broadway, Lake Tanglewood, McCormick Road and South Georgia. Bad neighborhoods in Amarillo include Maverick Street, Front Boulevard, E. Hastings Drive, Western Plaza, S. Georgia Street and Amarillo Boulevard.

You will be hard-pressed to find retirement properties in Amarillo priced differently from regular properties. Therefore, the above house prices and rental rates can be utilized for reference.

Is Amarillo a good place to visit?

You will find plenty to do and see as an expat visiting Amarillo. The city harbors great natural and man-made attractions that attract thousands of tourists to the city each year. The city’s past is rich in history and the city’s cowboy culture is unique.

The foremost attractions and landmarks in Amarillo include Cadillac Ranch, Palo Duro Canyon State Park, Wonderland Amusement Park, Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum, Don Harrington Discovery Center, Amarillo Zoo, American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame & Museum, Wildcat Bluff Nature Center, Kwahadi Museum of the American Indian, Texas Air & Space Museum and Helium Time Columns Monument.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the cost of living in Amarillo, Texas?

The living cots in Amarillo are 15 % below the US average. The largest contributor to Amarillo’s low living costs is the low price of housing which is 30% below the national average. Taxes are also a big reprieve to the living costs in Amarillo.

Is Amarillo a good place to invest in property?

Amarillo is a great place to invest in property especially because the prices are so low. Low real estate prices hold opportunities for resale at a profit even though customers may have to take out a mortgage to do so. However, every investor needs to acquire insurance their investment to protect themselves against downturns in the market.

Is Amarillo a good place to raise a family?

There are good school districts in Amarillo so your children’s education is a non-starter. The city has great natural beauty and your children will enjoy Amarillo’s climate. The city’s safety may be an issue so you should take extra measures to protect yourself.