Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cambridge, MA
VS
Odessa, TX
🏆 Odessa leads 14 of 21 categories
Cambridge
Massachusetts
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$121,539 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
115⚠ High
Population
117,962 ✓ Larger
Odessa
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,293
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.
Cambridge, MA
Pros
Households earn $50,246 more per year on average
More college-educated — 79.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.8 pts lower (3.3%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 94°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $997,600
Higher rents — median is $2,628/mo
Cost of living runs 20% higher than Odessa
Property crime (2644.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Odessa, TX
Pros
Homes cost $804k less ($193,500 vs $997,600)
Rent averages $1346/mo less ($1,282 vs $2,628)
28% less violent crime than Cambridge
20% cheaper overall cost of living than Cambridge
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 37°F
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Cambridge by $50,246/yr
Higher unemployment (6.1% vs 3.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Cambridge
Median Income
$50,246
$121,539 vs $71,293/yr
Cambridge
Unemployment
2.8 pp lower
3.3% vs 6.1% unemployment
Odessa
Cost of Living
20% cheaper
COL index 92.1 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Odessa
Violent Crime
28% lower
316.3 vs 436.7 per 100k
Odessa
Median Home Value
$804k less
$193,500 vs $997,600
Odessa
Summer Heat
9.3°F warmer
July avg high 94.0°F vs 84.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cambridge, MA | Odessa, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 92.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $997,600⚠ High | $193,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,628⚠ High | $1,282 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $121,539 ✓ Higher | $71,293 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.3% ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.2 min | 23.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 25.1% ✓ Higher | 3.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 119⚠ High | 85 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 115⚠ High | 83 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 88 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (135) | — |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 9.4:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 79.9% ✓ Higher | 18.4% |
| High School or Higher | 95.6% ✓ Higher | 81.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cambridge | UTPB STEM ACADEMY |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 37.0°F | 56.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.7°F | 94.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.3" | 12.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.2" | 0.9" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 117,962 ✓ Larger | 113,353 |
| Median Age | 30.6 | 30.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 33.6% | 59.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 12.2% | 29.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.9% ✓ More | 9.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cambridge's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Odessa's 92.1 (US average = 100).
Odessa is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Odessa leads 14 of 21 categories. Cambridge 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 Cambridge to Odessa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($997,600 vs $193,500 median home), income ($121,539 vs $71,293), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cambridge, MA and Odessa, TX are about 1,853 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.