Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chesapeake, VA
VS
Odessa, TX
🏆 Odessa leads 11 of 21 categories
Chesapeake
Virginia
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$92,703 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
89
Population
249,377 ✓ Larger
Odessa
Texas
11
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.
Chesapeake, VA
Pros
Households earn $21,410 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (5.0%)
More college-educated — 35.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $339,500
Higher rents — median is $1,446/mo
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Odessa
Odessa, TX
Pros
Homes cost $146k less ($193,500 vs $339,500)
Rent averages $164/mo less ($1,282 vs $1,446)
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.1)
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Chesapeake
Cons
Median income trails Chesapeake by $21,410/yr
Higher unemployment (6.1% vs 5.0%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Chesapeake
Median Income
$21,410
$92,703 vs $71,293/yr
Chesapeake
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
5.0% vs 6.1% unemployment
Odessa
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 92.1 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Odessa
Violent Crime
7% lower
316.3 vs 339.4 per 100k
Odessa
Median Home Value
$146k less
$193,500 vs $339,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chesapeake, VA | Odessa, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 | 92.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $339,500⚠ High | $193,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,446⚠ High | $1,282 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $92,703 ✓ Higher | $71,293 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.0 min | 23.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% ✓ Higher | 3.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 87 | 85 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 | 83 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 83 ✓ Safer | 88 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) | — |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.8% ✓ Higher | 18.4% |
| High School or Higher | 93.3% ✓ Higher | 81.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Chesapeake City Public Schools | UTPB STEM ACADEMY |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.3°F | 56.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.5°F | 94.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.0" | 12.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.2" | 0.9" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 249,377 ✓ Larger | 113,353 |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 30.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 73.3% ✓ Higher | 59.1% |
| Under 18 | 24.1% | 29.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.8% ✓ More | 9.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chesapeake's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Odessa's 92.1 (US average = 100).
Odessa is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Odessa leads 11 of 21 categories. Chesapeake wins 10 and Odessa wins 11. 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 Chesapeake to Odessa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($339,500 vs $193,500 median home), income ($92,703 vs $71,293), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chesapeake, VA and Odessa, TX are about 1,518 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.