Head-to-Head · City Comparison
College Station, TX
VS
Odessa, TX
🏆 College Station leads 14 of 21 categories
College Station
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$52,397
Violent Crime Index
45 ✓ Safer
Population
120,451 ✓ Larger
Odessa
Texas
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.1
Median Household Income
$71,293 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
83
Population
113,353
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
College Station, TX
Pros
46% less violent crime than Odessa
More college-educated — 58.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (170.5 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (4.7%)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Rent averages $153/mo less ($1,129 vs $1,282)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $305,800
Median income trails Odessa by $18,896/yr
Odessa, TX
Pros
Homes cost $112k less ($193,500 vs $305,800)
Households earn $18,896 more per year on average
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.1)
Cons
Higher unemployment (6.1% vs 4.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
College Station
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 90.7 vs 92.1 (100 = US avg)
College Station
Violent Crime
46% lower
170.5 vs 316.3 per 100k
College Station
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
4.7% vs 6.1% unemployment
Odessa
Median Income
$18,896
$71,293 vs $52,397/yr
Odessa
Median Home Value
$112k less
$193,500 vs $305,800
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | College Station, TX | Odessa, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.7 ✓ Cheaper | 92.1 |
| Median Home Value | $305,800⚠ High | $193,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,129 ✓ Lower | $1,282 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,397 | $71,293 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.9 min ✓ Shorter | 23.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% ✓ Higher | 3.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 48 ✓ Safer | 85 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 45 ✓ Safer | 83 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 53 ✓ Safer | 88 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (129) | — |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 58.3% ✓ Higher | 18.4% |
| High School or Higher | 95.3% ✓ Higher | 81.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | COLLEGE STATION ISD | UTPB STEM ACADEMY |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 61.7°F ✓ Warmer | 56.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.4°F ✓ Warmer | 94.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.2" | 12.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 120,451 ✓ Larger | 113,353 |
| Median Age | 22.9 | 30.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 36.3% | 59.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.5% | 29.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 6.8% | 9.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
College Station's cost of living index is 90.7 vs Odessa's 92.1 (US average = 100).
College Station is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, College Station leads 14 of 21 categories. College Station wins 14 and Odessa wins 7. 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 College Station to Odessa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($305,800 vs $193,500 median home), income ($52,397 vs $71,293), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
College Station, TX and Odessa, TX are about 368 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.