Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Baltimore, MD
VS
Odessa, TX
🏆 Odessa leads 14 of 21 categories
Baltimore
Maryland
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.7⚠ High
Median Household Income
$58,349
Violent Crime Index
423⚠ High
Population
584,548 ✓ Larger
Odessa
Texas
14
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.
Baltimore, MD
Pros
More college-educated — 34.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (1606.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Odessa by $12,944/yr
Property crime (4157.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Odessa
Odessa, TX
Pros
80% less violent crime than Baltimore
Households earn $12,944 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (6.1%)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Baltimore
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 44°F
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Odessa
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 92.1 vs 102.7 (100 = US avg)
Odessa
Median Income
$12,944
$71,293 vs $58,349/yr
Odessa
Violent Crime
80% lower
316.3 vs 1606.2 per 100k
Odessa
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
6.1% vs 6.9% unemployment
Odessa
Summer Heat
3.9°F warmer
July avg high 94.0°F vs 90.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Baltimore, MD | Odessa, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.7⚠ High | 92.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $202,900 | $193,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,235 ✓ Lower | $1,282 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,349 | $71,293 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.1 min⚠ High | 23.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.4% ✓ Higher | 3.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 333⚠ High | 85 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 423⚠ High | 83 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 198⚠ High | 88 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) | — |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.9% ✓ Higher | 18.4% |
| High School or Higher | 87.1% ✓ Higher | 81.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Baltimore City Public Schools | UTPB STEM ACADEMY |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 43.7°F | 56.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.1°F | 94.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.7" | 12.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 19.3" | 0.9" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 584,548 ✓ Larger | 113,353 |
| Median Age | 36.0 ✓ Older | 30.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.8% | 59.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.4% | 29.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.8% ✓ More | 9.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Baltimore's cost of living index is 102.7 vs Odessa's 92.1 (US average = 100).
Odessa is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Odessa leads 14 of 21 categories. Baltimore wins 7 and Odessa wins 14. 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 Baltimore to Odessa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($202,900 vs $193,500 median home), income ($58,349 vs $71,293), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Baltimore, MD and Odessa, TX are about 1,528 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.