The Amarillo metro is home to 270,207 people (up 2.6% over five years), with a median household income of $66,571. Typical rent of $1,309/month works out to 23.6% of the median household income — comfortably below the 30% affordability threshold (Census ACS + Zillow, September 2026).
The share of Amarillo's workforce by sector — the base of tenant demand:
| Sector | % of workforce |
|---|---|
| Education & health care | 22.7% |
| Retail trade | 11.5% |
| Manufacturing | 10.2% |
| Arts, food & hospitality | 8.9% |
| Construction | 8.6% |
Education & health care is the metro's largest employment base — sectors like education and health care are recession-resilient anchors for rental demand.
Rents at 23.6% of median income leave room for rent growth without pricing out the median tenant. Market pricing, yields and the Star Score live on the Amarillo market page; run a deal in the calculator.
At the 30%-of-income affordability rule, typical rent of $1,309/month suggests a household income around $52,000/year. The metro's median household income is $66,571.
By workforce share: Education & health care (22.7%), Retail trade (11.5%), Manufacturing (10.2%) (Census ACS 5-year).