Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chattanooga, TN
VS
Odessa, TX
🏆 Odessa leads 12 of 21 categories
Chattanooga
Tennessee
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8
Median Household Income
$57,703
Violent Crime Index
217⚠ High
Population
181,288 ✓ 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.
Chattanooga, TN
Pros
Rent averages $216/mo less ($1,066 vs $1,282)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (5.1%)
More college-educated — 34.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.8)
Cons
Violent crime (823.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Odessa by $13,590/yr
Property crime (3942.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Odessa, TX
Pros
62% less violent crime than Chattanooga
Households earn $13,590 more per year on average
Homes cost $37k less ($193,500 vs $230,500)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.1)
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 51°F
Cons
Higher unemployment (6.1% vs 5.1%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Chattanooga
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
5.1% vs 6.1% unemployment
Odessa
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 92.1 vs 92.8 (100 = US avg)
Odessa
Median Income
$13,590
$71,293 vs $57,703/yr
Odessa
Violent Crime
62% lower
316.3 vs 823.7 per 100k
Odessa
Median Home Value
$37k less
$193,500 vs $230,500
Odessa
Summer Heat
3.5°F warmer
July avg high 94.0°F vs 90.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chattanooga, TN | Odessa, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.8 | 92.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $230,500 | $193,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,066 ✓ Lower | $1,282 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,703 | $71,293 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter | 23.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.4% ✓ Higher | 3.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 205⚠ High | 85 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 217⚠ High | 83 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 188⚠ High | 88 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) | — |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.1% ✓ Higher | 18.4% |
| High School or Higher | 89.0% ✓ Higher | 81.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hamilton County | UTPB STEM ACADEMY |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.0°F | 56.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.5°F | 94.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.0" | 12.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.6" | 0.9" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 181,288 ✓ Larger | 113,353 |
| Median Age | 37.0 ✓ Older | 30.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.4% | 59.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 29.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.2% ✓ More | 9.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chattanooga's cost of living index is 92.8 vs Odessa's 92.1 (US average = 100).
Odessa is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Odessa leads 12 of 21 categories. Chattanooga 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 Chattanooga to Odessa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($230,500 vs $193,500 median home), income ($57,703 vs $71,293), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chattanooga, TN and Odessa, TX are about 1,008 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.