Is Lubbock or Amarillo cheaper to live in?

Both are affordable by Texas standards, and cost of living is close. Lubbock has slightly higher average home prices ($260k–$300k median) versus Amarillo ($230k–$275k), but Lubbock generally has more high-paying job growth thanks to Texas Tech, healthcare, and research spend.

Which city is bigger, Lubbock or Amarillo?

Lubbock is larger — about 265,000 residents inside city limits versus roughly 200,000 for Amarillo. The Lubbock metro area is also growing faster on a percentage basis.

Which city has better schools, Lubbock or Amarillo?

Both have strong ISDs. Lubbock ISD, Frenship, Cooper, and Lubbock-Cooper are the top choices in Lubbock. Amarillo ISD and Canyon ISD are the primary Amarillo choices. Individual campus quality varies more than city-level generalizations.

Which city has better weather?

Very similar — both are high-plains, dry, sunny, with cold winters, hot summers, and occasional severe storms. Amarillo sits at higher elevation and gets slightly more snow. Lubbock has slightly more windy days.

Where should I move: Lubbock or Amarillo?

Lubbock if you want a college-town culture, more medical/university jobs, or Texas Tech access. Amarillo if you want proximity to New Mexico/Colorado outdoor recreation, agriculture and logistics jobs, or a slightly smaller feel.

West Texas Relocation

Lubbock vs Amarillo

Both are great West Texas cities. Here's how they really compare when you're deciding where to plant roots.

By Adam Cavazos, Texas Realtor®

Aycock Realty Group · Lubbock, TX · Licensed & active

Published July 25, 2026 · Reviewed and updated July 25, 2026

	Lubbock	Amarillo
Population (city)	~265,000	~200,000
Metro growth	Faster growth, driven by Tech, healthcare, research	Steady, driven by agriculture, logistics, energy
Median home price	$260k–$300k	$230k–$275k
Property tax rate (effective)	~2.0%–2.4%	~1.9%–2.3%
Anchor institutions	Texas Tech University, UMC, Covenant Health	Amarillo College, WT A&M nearby, BSA/Northwest Texas Healthcare
Job base	University, medical, research, retail, agriculture	Agriculture, logistics, energy, healthcare, defense
Weather	High plains, sunny, dry, windy, cold winters	Higher elevation, slightly more snow, dry
Outdoor recreation	Buffalo Springs Lake, Ransom Canyon, wine trail	Palo Duro Canyon, closer to NM/CO mountains
College-town culture	Strong — Texas Tech drives dining, arts, sports	Moderate — smaller student population
Airport	Lubbock Preston Smith (LBB)	Rick Husband Amarillo Intl. (AMA)

Choose Lubbock if…

› You work in higher education, healthcare, or research.
› You want a college-town cultural feel with a growing metro.
› You want deeper housing inventory across price bands.
› You value the Texas Tech alumni network.

Choose Amarillo if…

› You want cheaper homes on average and lower entry cost.
› Palo Duro Canyon and NM/CO mountains matter to your lifestyle.
› You work in agriculture, logistics, or the energy sector.

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