Nearly 1 in 5 Residents in This City Have Moved in the Past Year—Here’s Why It’s a Newcomer’s Paradise

Momentum is being built in Amarillo, TX, and is a major driver of the yet-to-be-built project slated to bring thousands of tech jobs.

The city is witnessing an increase in people moving to the metro. Currently, the home move rate in Amarillo has increased to about 17.9% by 2024, up from 16.5% a decade ago, according to the National Association of Realtors®. That figure is well above the national average of 11% and outpaces most metropolitan areas.

“Amarillo stands out because travel has been down across the country — but here, it’s up, and that’s rare,” said NAR’s chief economist. Nadia Evangelou he tells Realtor.com®. “That tells us there is still movement happening in the area, and movement is what keeps housing markets moving.”

According to Evangelou, mobility is closely related to the activity of the real estate market.

He says: “When homes move, houses are listed. “When homes are listed, buyers participate. In markets where people continue to move—whether for jobs, lifestyle changes, or family reasons—there is often an inherent advantage. That creates opportunities even at a time when the country’s cycle is slow.”

About 1 in 5 residents in the Amarillo metro area moved within the past year, according to NAR.

“Its moderate size, affordability, and employment base make it attractive to families and retirees,” it said. Hannah Jonessenior economic research analyst at Realtor.com.

A data center near Amarillo is under construction

The main attraction of the area is what is called Project Matador—a data development center being built about 35 miles north of the Amarillo city limits. It is expected to exceed 5,800 hectares and include a capacity of 18 million square meters.

The developer, Fermi America LLC, estimates it will need between 5,000 and 10,000 workers in the construction phase, and between 1,000 and 2,000 workers to operate the facility.

“Project Matador’s upcoming data center is absolutely contributing to the mobility improvements we’re seeing,” the Amarillo real estate agent said. Rheannon Pierce-Loganof eXp Realty, tells Realtor.com. “Major developments like this create significant job opportunities, attracting buyers and investors from outside the country looking to relocate for long-term growth.”

“By supporting high-paying positions, data centers can strengthen the local economy, although they may impact home price growth in the long run,” Jones said.

But last week, the project was put on hold. Fermi America said in a statement sent to local news station KFDA that the company is awaiting a final clean air permit from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.

“Construction on the Project Matador site was happening at Fermi speed. We completed our first phase so quickly that we paused construction because we didn’t want to risk getting a speeding ticket from the TCEQ while we waited for our final Clean Air permit. We had an incredible 150 days and plan to complete the next phase even faster,” Toby Neugebauerfounder and CEO of Fermi America, in a statement.

Inside the Amarillo real estate market

“The housing market in Amarillo is stable and affordable,” Jones said, “creating opportunities for families looking to relocate.”

The median listing price was $290,500 in January, down 2.3% year over year.

“That accessibility, coupled with strong and stable industries, makes our city very attractive,” Pierce-Logan said. “We have a variety of career opportunities where many residents are building careers for life.”

Douglas A. Campbellchairman of the board of the Amarillo Association of Realtors, tells Realtor.com that the city is changing from a thriving health care and agricultural hub to a technology hub, where low-cost entry and high industrial investment attract a steady, diverse population.

Amarillo also serves as a regional economic hub in the Texas Panhandle, providing jobs and services to the surrounding rural communities.

According to Pierce-Logan, the local real estate market is gaining momentum.

“By 2026, we are already seeing momentum building,” he said. “The last four houses I listed have been contracted within a week.”

During the same period, the average home spent 64 days on the market—about two weeks below the national average.

Why people move to Amarillo

“I have seen many people recently saying that they are moving here. Chip Huntwho has lived in Amarillo since 1985 and owns the 6th Street Antique Mall, tells Realtor.com.

Beyond the job market, Hunt says he hears many different reasons for their departure.

“Many people move here from the big cities of California, because the cost of living is much cheaper here,” he explained. “You get a lot for your money, especially when it comes to housing. Some people move here because it’s a good place to raise children. The people are friendly and willing to help each other.”

“Amarillo offers a strong sense of community, real opportunity, and a high quality of life,” Hope Stokes Hoeffnerdirector of marketing for Visit Amarillo, tells Realtor.com. “As a thriving city of over 200,000 people, we provide mass market services while maintaining the connectivity and accessibility of a close-knit community.”

Hunt says the downtown area is another big one.

“We are within 4.5 hours of Dallas, Oklahoma City, and Albuquerque. You can drive to go skiing in New Mexico and be home at night. Everything is right within reach.”

Business owners like Hunt are benefiting from Amarillo’s growing popularity.

“Local businesses now have a strong reason to prepare for what could be great growth in Amarillo,” it said. Paul Simpsondirector of business retention and expansion at Amarillo Economic Development Corp. “This momentum gives businesses the confidence to expand and innovate.”

Greensboro, NC, also had a spike in domestic traffic

Evangelou says Greensboro, NC, has also seen an increase in the number of local residents over the past decade, from 11.5% in 2014 to 12.5% ​​in 2024.

“Growth there has been more limited than Amarillo, but it’s still prominent in a time when travel has declined in many areas,” he said. “It suggests that there are parts of the country where households are still moving.”

The median listing price in Greensboro was $319,900 in January.

“Greensboro, NC, experienced strong price growth during the meeting [COVID-19] epidemic,” Jones said. “Although that pace has slowed, home prices remain high, and price-per-square-foot growth has continued.”

According to Jones, the Greensboro market has changed in its activity during the pandemic: “Homes are spending more time on the market, and price growth is slowing.”