Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Buffalo, NY
VS
Odessa, TX
🏆 Odessa leads 12 of 21 categories
Buffalo
New York
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.4
Median Household Income
$46,184
Violent Crime Index
186⚠ High
Population
276,688 ✓ Larger
Odessa
Texas
12
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.
Buffalo, NY
Pros
Homes cost $61k less ($132,100 vs $193,500)
Rent averages $340/mo less ($942 vs $1,282)
More college-educated — 30.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 94°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.4)
Cons
Median income trails Odessa by $25,109/yr
Violent crime (706.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3809.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.0% vs 6.1%)
Odessa, TX
Pros
Households earn $25,109 more per year on average
55% less violent crime than Buffalo
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (6.1%)
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 32°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.1)
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Buffalo
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Buffalo
Median Home Value
$61k less
$132,100 vs $193,500
Odessa
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 92.1 vs 94.4 (100 = US avg)
Odessa
Median Income
$25,109
$71,293 vs $46,184/yr
Odessa
Violent Crime
55% lower
316.3 vs 706.2 per 100k
Odessa
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
6.1% vs 7.0% unemployment
Odessa
Summer Heat
13.8°F warmer
July avg high 94.0°F vs 80.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Buffalo, NY | Odessa, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.4 | 92.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $132,100 ✓ Lower | $193,500 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $942 ✓ Lower | $1,282 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $46,184 | $71,293 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.0%⚠ High | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.6 min ✓ Shorter | 23.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.9% ✓ Higher | 3.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 184⚠ High | 85 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 186⚠ High | 83 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 181⚠ High | 88 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) | — |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.5:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.0% ✓ Higher | 18.4% |
| High School or Higher | 86.2% ✓ Higher | 81.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BUFFALO CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | UTPB STEM ACADEMY |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.1°F | 56.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 80.2°F | 94.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.8" | 12.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 95.4" | 0.9" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 276,688 ✓ Larger | 113,353 |
| Median Age | 33.9 ✓ Older | 30.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.6% | 59.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.3% | 29.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.4% ✓ More | 9.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Buffalo's cost of living index is 94.4 vs Odessa's 92.1 (US average = 100).
Odessa is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Odessa leads 12 of 21 categories. Buffalo wins 9 and Odessa wins 12. 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 Buffalo to Odessa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($132,100 vs $193,500 median home), income ($46,184 vs $71,293), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Buffalo, NY and Odessa, TX are about 1,489 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.