Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cary, NC
VS
Odessa, TX
🏆 Cary leads 13 of 21 categories
Cary
North Carolina
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0
Median Household Income
$125,317 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
19 ✓ Safer
Population
174,880 ✓ Larger
Odessa
Texas
8
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.
Cary, NC
Pros
Households earn $54,024 more per year on average
78% less violent crime than Odessa
More college-educated — 70.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.7 pts lower (3.4%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (71.0 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 89°F vs 94°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $477,400
Higher rents — median is $1,538/mo
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Odessa
Odessa, TX
Pros
Homes cost $284k less ($193,500 vs $477,400)
Rent averages $256/mo less ($1,282 vs $1,538)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.1)
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 51°F
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Cary
Cons
Median income trails Cary by $54,024/yr
Higher unemployment (6.1% vs 3.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Cary
Median Income
$54,024
$125,317 vs $71,293/yr
Cary
Violent Crime
78% lower
71.0 vs 316.3 per 100k
Cary
Unemployment
2.7 pp lower
3.4% vs 6.1% unemployment
Odessa
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 92.1 vs 98.0 (100 = US avg)
Odessa
Median Home Value
$284k less
$193,500 vs $477,400
Odessa
Summer Heat
5.0°F warmer
July avg high 94.0°F vs 89.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cary, NC | Odessa, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 | 92.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $477,400⚠ High | $193,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,538⚠ High | $1,282 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $125,317 ✓ Higher | $71,293 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.8 min ✓ Shorter | 23.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 28.3% ✓ Higher | 3.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 36 ✓ Safer | 85 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 19 ✓ Safer | 83 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 63 ✓ Safer | 88 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (118) | — |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.3:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 70.3% ✓ Higher | 18.4% |
| High School or Higher | 96.8% ✓ Higher | 81.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Wake County Schools | UTPB STEM ACADEMY |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.9°F | 56.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.0°F | 94.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.3" | 12.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 4.8" | 0.9" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 174,880 ✓ Larger | 113,353 |
| Median Age | 39.4 ✓ Older | 30.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.8% ✓ Higher | 59.1% |
| Under 18 | 24.5% | 29.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.2% ✓ More | 9.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cary's cost of living index is 98.0 vs Odessa's 92.1 (US average = 100).
Odessa is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Cary leads 13 of 21 categories. Cary 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 Cary to Odessa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($477,400 vs $193,500 median home), income ($125,317 vs $71,293), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cary, NC and Odessa, TX are about 1,373 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.