Below Average CostSafer than AverageUTPB STEM ACADEMY
Odessa, Texas · Vasiliymeshko / CC BY 4.0Prosperity Bank, Odessa, TX DSCN1277 · Billy Hathorn / CC BY-SA 3.0Pumpjacks in Texas · ErgoSum88 / Public domainMCM Grand Hotel, Odessa, TX DSCN1213 · Billy Hathorn / CC BY-SA 3.0
Odessa is a mid-sized city of 113,353 in Texas, with a median household income of $71,293
and a 6.1% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 92 (US average = 100), which is
8% below the national average.
Strengths:
Odessa stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Odessa is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Odessa city data on this page comes from official government sources —
the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 92.1
Odessa's overall cost of living index is 92.1,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Odessa costs roughly 8% less than the average American city.
Metric
Odessa, TX
National Avg
Median Home Value
$193,500
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$1,282
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
59.1%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$71,293
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Safer than Average
Odessa's violent crime rate is 316.3 per 100,000 residents
— 17% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
316.3 /100k
Property Crime
1842.5 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Odessa is served primarily by UTPB STEM ACADEMY.
Metric
Odessa, TX
National Avg
School District
UTPB STEM ACADEMY
—
Elementary Schools
N/A
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
N/A
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
N/A
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
18.4%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
81.0%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Odessa sees average highs of 56.9°F in January
and 94.0°F in July,
with 12.3 inches of annual precipitation
and 0.9 inches of snow per year.
Odessa's cost of living index is 92, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Odessa roughly 8% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $193,500 and median rent is $1,282/month.
Odessa's violent crime rate is 316.3 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1842.5 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Odessa are operated by UTPB STEM ACADEMY.
The district has several elementary, several middle, and several high schools.
18.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Odessa, TX has a population of 113,353, a median household income of $71,293, and an unemployment rate of 6.1%.
It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Odessa averages 56.9°F in January and 94.0°F in July. Annual rainfall is 12.3 inches
with about 0.9 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Odessa, TX is covered by 4 ZIP codes: 79762, 79765, 79761, 79766.
The population of Odessa, Texas is 113,353 with a median age of 30.7. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Odessa: cost of living index 92 (100 = US average), median home $193,500, median household income $71,293, crime index 85 (100 = US average, lower is safer). Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Odessa side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
