Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boise City, ID
VS
Odessa, TX
🏆 Boise City leads 15 of 21 categories
Boise City
Idaho
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.4
Median Household Income
$76,402 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
77 ✓ Safer
Population
234,192 ✓ Larger
Odessa
Texas
6
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.
Boise City, ID
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (3.8%)
More college-educated — 45.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.4)
Households earn $5,109 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $401,800
Odessa, TX
Pros
Homes cost $208k less ($193,500 vs $401,800)
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 39°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.1)
Cons
Higher unemployment (6.1% vs 3.8%)
Median income trails Boise City by $5,109/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Boise City
Median Income
$5,109
$76,402 vs $71,293/yr
Boise City
Violent Crime
7% lower
293.8 vs 316.3 per 100k
Boise City
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
3.8% vs 6.1% unemployment
Odessa
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 92.1 vs 93.4 (100 = US avg)
Odessa
Median Home Value
$208k less
$193,500 vs $401,800
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boise City, ID | Odessa, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.4 | 92.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $401,800⚠ High | $193,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,223 ✓ Lower | $1,282 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $76,402 ✓ Higher | $71,293 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter | 23.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 14.4% ✓ Higher | 3.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 68 ✓ Safer | 85 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 77 ✓ Safer | 83 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 53 ✓ Safer | 88 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) | — |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.7:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 45.8% ✓ Higher | 18.4% |
| High School or Higher | 95.2% ✓ Higher | 81.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BOISE INDEPENDENT DISTRICT | UTPB STEM ACADEMY |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.8°F | 56.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.7°F | 94.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.5" ✓ Drier | 12.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 17.6" | 0.9" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 234,192 ✓ Larger | 113,353 |
| Median Age | 37.9 ✓ Older | 30.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.9% ✓ Higher | 59.1% |
| Under 18 | 18.9% | 29.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.2% ✓ More | 9.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boise City's cost of living index is 93.4 vs Odessa's 92.1 (US average = 100).
Odessa is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Boise City leads 15 of 21 categories. Boise City wins 15 and Odessa wins 6. 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 Boise City to Odessa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($401,800 vs $193,500 median home), income ($76,402 vs $71,293), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boise City, ID and Odessa, TX are about 1,107 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.