Moving to Amarillo: Where to Live and How to Choose

An Amarillo address doesn't tell you much. It doesn't tell you the school district, the county, the tax rate, or whether you'll be on city water or a well. This page shows how the area breaks down and how to narrow it to a few places worth visiting. The details live on the neighborhood pages linked below.

Not sure where to start? Tell us what matters to you.

How the Area Is Laid Out

Amarillo is divided into four quadrants (northwest, southwest, northeast and southeast), and the same four exist outside the city limits. The area spans two counties, Potter and Randall, and the school district you land in depends on the street, not the city name.

• Explore the interactive neighborhood map
• Browse all neighborhoods
• In town: Northwest Amarillo, Southwest Amarillo, Southeast Amarillo

Amarillo, Canyon, Bushland or Outside the City

In Amarillo. Inside city limits you get city utilities and services. Neighborhoods here vary widely, so the quadrant pages and neighborhood pages are the place to compare. See Amarillo homes for sale.

Canyon. A separate city south of Amarillo and home to West Texas A&M University. Homes here are in Canyon ISD. See Canyon homes for sale.

Bushland. West of Amarillo, mostly acreage homes on well and septic, in Bushland ISD. See Bushland homes for sale.

Outside the city limits. Bigger lots and more space. Homes outside city limits are almost always on a well and septic system instead of city water and sewer. Browse by direction: northwest, southwest, southeast and northeast.

Schools

Four districts serve the area: Amarillo ISD, Canyon ISD, Bushland ISD and Highland Park ISD. Much of southwest and south Amarillo is in Canyon ISD, and the west side is largely Bushland ISD, so a house with an Amarillo mailing address may not be in Amarillo ISD at all.

• Compare the districts and their feeder schools
• Look up the schools for one address

Zones can change. Confirm the schools for a specific address with the district before you buy.

What It Costs to Own

The list price is only part of it. Yearly cost depends on the school district, the county, whether the home is inside city limits, and whether there's an HOA or a city Public Improvement District (PID). Outside the city, a well and septic system add their own costs and upkeep.

We don't put one number here because it varies too much from one area to the next. Each neighborhood page shows what applies there: HOA, PID, tax rate and typical price range.

• Compare costs by neighborhood
• Buyer closing costs

Commutes

Pick your area around the drive you'll make most. Most neighborhood pages show drive times to the same set of places so you can compare side by side: downtown, the medical district, Pantex, the airport, the Soncy Road and Westgate shopping area, West Texas A&M in Canyon, and the nearest highway on-ramp (I-40, I-27 or Loop 335).

Daily Life, Straight Talk

• Distance. Check the drive, not the mileage, especially from acreage.
• Wind. It's a constant here, and the way a house or lot faces matters more than most newcomers expect.
• Water. On acreage, water usually means a well. Depth, quality and cost differ by tract.
• Internet. Service varies by address. Check a specific address before you commit.
• Utilities when you arrive. Start, stop and transfer service here.

New Construction, Existing Homes or Acreage

Each choice trades something. New construction brings builder warranties and fewer repairs. Existing homes tend to come with established streets and neighbors nearby. Acreage brings space and independence along with a well, septic and a longer drive.

• New construction homes
• Homes on acreage
• Lots and land

Planning the Move

Rent first or buy? It depends. Renting for a few months makes sense if you don't know the area yet, haven't settled on schools, or are still selling a home elsewhere. Buying right away can make sense if your job and school district are set, or you've already spent time here. Either way, figure out the area before you pick the house.

What listings don't show. The school zone, the county, whether it's inside city limits, well and septic, HOA and PID, and how the house sits in the wind. We check all of it for you.

Where to Start

• Want a specific school district? Start with the school district page.
• Want city utilities and a neighborhood? Pick a quadrant above.
• Want land? Start with acreage, Bushland and the areas outside the city limits.
• Want new construction? Start here.
• Want to plan around your commute first? Start with the map.

Talk to Our Team

Moving from out of town is a lot to sort out. Tell us your timeline, your budget and what matters most, and our team will send back a short list of areas to explore.

Get my area shortlist

Want to know who you'd be working with? Meet the team.