Amarillo, Texas or Wichita Falls, Texas and Why ? (Fort Worth, Lubbock: apartments, rent)

[Demps]

If you had to choose between living in Amarillo, Texas or Wichita Falls , Texas which would you choose and why ?

Which would be the better city for a single person ?

Which would be the better city for a family ?

Which would be the better city to retire in ?

I am basically just looking for other people opinions here.

My situation really does not matter that much.

What I am doing here is just trying to get other peoples opinions because I value other people opinions whether I agree or disagree with their opinions.

[losttechnician]

Can't claim to know much about Wichita Falls, other than it is a fine place to stop on my way from Amarillo to Denton to visit family. Seems like a nice place, but I have no experience other than the occasional stop.

Amarillo on the other hand, I live in the immediate area. Amarillo has a decent mall, fun hockey games, a few concerts, some tattoo parlors, quite a few bars, close to Palo Duro Canyon, Canyon has a great museum at WT. The traffic on I-40 is nuts, especially at I-27, but years of living in Lubbock and the years of steady visits to DFW have shown me it is not much nuttier than those places.

Economy is not stinking too bad around here right now, lots of housing selling, some real nice areas to live in, and some cheap areas (not too safe) as well. Decent hospitals, lots of places to eat, just all around a decent place IMO.

WF might be a nice place to live too, just don't know. Amarillo is working well for me right now though, so have to vote for it!

[goodtymes70]

Wichita Falls would be better, not too big or small, easier to get around, lower cost of living than Amarillo, less crime, the air doesn't smell like cow patties like Amarillo. Wichita Falls is much closer to the DFW area only 2 hours away. Amarillo is really out by itself.

[losttechnician]

Agreed, DFW is much closer to WF, and is real easy to get around in.

Amarillo does not always smell like cow patties though. SW part of town I have noticed happens sometimes, but overall not very smelly.

If the OP desires convenient access to large city amenities, then WF would be by far the logical choice. If being a little more remote is preferrable, Amarillo would be a good choice.


For myself, I care little for the DFW thing, although I frequently visit family there. From Wichita Falls to Fort Worth, it seems like there is just more and more people. From Wichita Falls to Amarillo it gets more and more open with fewer people. I find that more comfortable, but obviously I am in the minority. Most folks like living in big cities. Frankly I kind of like being able to drive a ways without seeing much in the way of people, so Amarillo would be the choice for me.

But I have absolutely nothing bad to say about Wichita Falls. My limited experience has been all positive there.

[Mark Senior]

You gotta chose between the two? lol

[beasleb]

Go with Amarillo...you'll like it.

[goodtymes70]

either way your not in a good situation.

[stilldriveem]

I've lived in Wichita Falls for over 45 years so for me at least, It's perfect. I like being only two hours from OKC or DFW if I can't find what I need here. Plus my truck driving job goes from Amarillo to Paris TX and back so living here I get home every night just like a nine to fiver. Traffic here is light, and homes are cheaper, but Apt. rent is not always cheaper then DFW believe it or not. Of course I have not rented since '98.

[goodtymes70]

Housing and Apartments are expensive in Wichita Falls compared to the DFW area because there usually isn't as much available in Wichita Falls being a smaller city. Also I think many houses in Wichita Falls were more expensive to build because of the tornadoes so they build them more durable for strong winds and violent storms. The closer to Oklahoma you are the greater your chance is of being in a tornado.

Wichita Falls like Amarillo can be tough places to live, that is why many people choose to live elsewhere. Anyway why your narrowing it down to these 2 cities surprises me, but both cities do a good job selling themselves online, but once you get there it's not quite what you expected, that's why City Data Forums are such a good resource.

[duanealexander]

It's obvious which is the better city. Wichita Falls' pop is barely 100,000 while Amarillo's is around 200,000. Amarillo's unemployment rate is lower and the city's growth rate is almost twice that of WF.