Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arlington, VA
VS
Odessa, TX
🏆 Arlington leads 11 of 21 categories
Arlington
Virginia
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$137,387 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
67 ✓ Safer
Population
235,845 ✓ Larger
Odessa
Texas
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,293
Violent Crime Index
83
Population
113,353
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Arlington, VA
Pros
Households earn $66,094 more per year on average
More college-educated — 76.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
20% less violent crime than Odessa
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.3 pts lower (2.8%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (254.4 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $833,300
Higher rents — median is $2,227/mo
Cost of living runs 17% higher than Odessa
Longer commutes — 27.7 min average each way
Odessa, TX
Pros
Homes cost $640k less ($193,500 vs $833,300)
Rent averages $945/mo less ($1,282 vs $2,227)
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Arlington
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 45°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.1)
Cons
Median income trails Arlington by $66,094/yr
Higher unemployment (6.1% vs 2.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Arlington
Median Income
$66,094
$137,387 vs $71,293/yr
Arlington
Violent Crime
20% lower
254.4 vs 316.3 per 100k
Arlington
Unemployment
3.3 pp lower
2.8% vs 6.1% unemployment
Odessa
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 92.1 vs 108.6 (100 = US avg)
Odessa
Median Home Value
$640k less
$193,500 vs $833,300
Odessa
Summer Heat
4.4°F warmer
July avg high 94.0°F vs 89.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arlington, VA | Odessa, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.6⚠ High | 92.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $833,300⚠ High | $193,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,227⚠ High | $1,282 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $137,387 ✓ Higher | $71,293 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.8% ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.7 min⚠ High | 23.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 27.0% ✓ Higher | 3.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 73 ✓ Safer | 85 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 67 ✓ Safer | 83 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 83 ✓ Safer | 88 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (121) | — |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.8:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 76.8% ✓ Higher | 18.4% |
| High School or Higher | 95.3% ✓ Higher | 81.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Arlington County Public Schools | UTPB STEM ACADEMY |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.8°F | 56.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F | 94.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.2" | 12.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.7" | 0.9" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 235,845 ✓ Larger | 113,353 |
| Median Age | 35.3 ✓ Older | 30.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.2% | 59.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.1% | 29.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.3% ✓ More | 9.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arlington's cost of living index is 108.6 vs Odessa's 92.1 (US average = 100).
Odessa is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Arlington leads 11 of 21 categories. Arlington wins 11 and Odessa wins 10. 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 Arlington to Odessa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($833,300 vs $193,500 median home), income ($137,387 vs $71,293), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arlington, VA and Odessa, TX are about 1,496 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.