Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Clearwater, FL
VS
Odessa, TX
🏆 Odessa leads 11 of 21 categories
Clearwater
Florida
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$59,358
Violent Crime Index
104⚠ High
Population
116,984 ✓ Larger
Odessa
Texas
11
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.
Clearwater, FL
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (4.7%)
More college-educated — 31.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 57°F
Cons
Median income trails Odessa by $11,935/yr
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Odessa
Higher rents — median is $1,389/mo
Odessa, TX
Pros
Homes cost $94k less ($193,500 vs $287,900)
20% less violent crime than Clearwater
Households earn $11,935 more per year on average
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Clearwater
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.1)
Rent averages $107/mo less ($1,282 vs $1,389)
Cons
Higher unemployment (6.1% vs 4.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Clearwater
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
4.7% vs 6.1% unemployment
Odessa
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 92.1 vs 103.4 (100 = US avg)
Odessa
Median Income
$11,935
$71,293 vs $59,358/yr
Odessa
Violent Crime
20% lower
316.3 vs 395.5 per 100k
Odessa
Median Home Value
$94k less
$193,500 vs $287,900
Odessa
Summer Heat
3.7°F warmer
July avg high 94.0°F vs 90.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Clearwater, FL | Odessa, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.4⚠ High | 92.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $287,900 | $193,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,389⚠ High | $1,282 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,358 | $71,293 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.8 min ✓ Shorter | 23.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 16.4% ✓ Higher | 3.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 99 | 85 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 104⚠ High | 83 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 90 | 88 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) | — |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.9% ✓ Higher | 18.4% |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% ✓ Higher | 81.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | PINELLAS | UTPB STEM ACADEMY |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.6°F ✓ Warmer | 56.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.3°F | 94.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 56.1" | 12.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 116,984 ✓ Larger | 113,353 |
| Median Age | 46.0 ✓ Older | 30.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.8% | 59.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.6% | 29.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 23.5% ✓ More | 9.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Clearwater's cost of living index is 103.4 vs Odessa's 92.1 (US average = 100).
Odessa is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Odessa leads 11 of 21 categories. Clearwater 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 Clearwater to Odessa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($287,900 vs $193,500 median home), income ($59,358 vs $71,293), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Clearwater, FL and Odessa, TX are about 1,201 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.