Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Beaumont, TX
VS
Odessa, TX
🏆 Beaumont leads 13 of 21 categories
Beaumont
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.2 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$53,745
Violent Crime Index
299⚠ High
Population
114,573 ✓ Larger
Odessa
Texas
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.1
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.
Beaumont, TX
Pros
Rent averages $290/mo less ($992 vs $1,282)
Homes cost $43k less ($150,400 vs $193,500)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (5.3%)
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 25.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.2)
Cons
Violent crime (1137.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Odessa by $17,548/yr
Property crime (3302.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Odessa, TX
Pros
72% less violent crime than Beaumont
Households earn $17,548 more per year on average
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.1)
Cons
Higher unemployment (6.1% vs 5.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Beaumont
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 90.2 vs 92.1 (100 = US avg)
Beaumont
Median Home Value
$43k less
$150,400 vs $193,500
Beaumont
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
5.3% vs 6.1% unemployment
Odessa
Median Income
$17,548
$71,293 vs $53,745/yr
Odessa
Violent Crime
72% lower
316.3 vs 1137.3 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Beaumont, TX | Odessa, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.2 ✓ Cheaper | 92.1 |
| Median Home Value | $150,400 ✓ Lower | $193,500 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $992 ✓ Lower | $1,282 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $53,745 | $71,293 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.7 min ✓ Shorter | 23.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 3.6% ✓ Higher | 3.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 242⚠ High | 85 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 299⚠ High | 83 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 157⚠ High | 88 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | — |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.9:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.8% ✓ Higher | 18.4% |
| High School or Higher | 86.2% ✓ Higher | 81.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BEAUMONT ISD | UTPB STEM ACADEMY |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.6°F ✓ Warmer | 56.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F | 94.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 65.1" | 12.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" ✓ Less | 0.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,573 ✓ Larger | 113,353 |
| Median Age | 35.5 ✓ Older | 30.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.4% | 59.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.7% | 29.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.9% ✓ More | 9.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Beaumont's cost of living index is 90.2 vs Odessa's 92.1 (US average = 100).
Beaumont is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Beaumont leads 13 of 21 categories. Beaumont wins 13 and Odessa wins 8. 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 Beaumont to Odessa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($150,400 vs $193,500 median home), income ($53,745 vs $71,293), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Beaumont, TX and Odessa, TX are about 501 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.