Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Albuquerque, NM
VS
Odessa, TX
🏆 Albuquerque leads 12 of 21 categories
Albuquerque
New Mexico
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.0
Median Household Income
$61,503
Violent Crime Index
311⚠ High
Population
562,551 ✓ Larger
Odessa
Texas
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,293 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
83 ✓ Safer
Population
113,353
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Albuquerque, NM
Pros
Rent averages $268/mo less ($1,014 vs $1,282)
More college-educated — 37.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (5.5%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.0)
Cons
Violent crime (1181.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Odessa by $9,790/yr
Property crime (4628.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Odessa, TX
Pros
73% less violent crime than Albuquerque
Homes cost $53k less ($193,500 vs $246,000)
Households earn $9,790 more per year on average
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.1)
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 52°F
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Albuquerque
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
5.5% vs 6.1% unemployment
Odessa
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 92.1 vs 93.0 (100 = US avg)
Odessa
Median Income
$9,790
$71,293 vs $61,503/yr
Odessa
Violent Crime
73% lower
316.3 vs 1181.8 per 100k
Odessa
Median Home Value
$53k less
$193,500 vs $246,000
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Albuquerque, NM | Odessa, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.0 | 92.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $246,000 | $193,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,014 ✓ Lower | $1,282 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $61,503 | $71,293 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.1 min ✓ Shorter | 23.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.0% ✓ Higher | 3.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 275⚠ High | 85 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 311⚠ High | 83 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 220⚠ High | 88 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) | — |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.1:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.8% ✓ Higher | 18.4% |
| High School or Higher | 90.7% ✓ Higher | 81.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALBUQUERQUE | UTPB STEM ACADEMY |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.9°F | 56.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.9°F ✓ Warmer | 94.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.3" ✓ Drier | 12.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 7.9" | 0.9" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 562,551 ✓ Larger | 113,353 |
| Median Age | 38.0 ✓ Older | 30.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.7% ✓ Higher | 59.1% |
| Under 18 | 21.0% | 29.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.6% ✓ More | 9.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Albuquerque's cost of living index is 93.0 vs Odessa's 92.1 (US average = 100).
Odessa is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Albuquerque leads 12 of 21 categories. Albuquerque wins 12 and Odessa wins 9. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Albuquerque to Odessa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($246,000 vs $193,500 median home), income ($61,503 vs $71,293), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Albuquerque, NM and Odessa, TX are about 333 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.