Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Columbia, SC
VS
Odessa, TX
🏆 Odessa leads 13 of 21 categories
Columbia
South Carolina
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.9
Median Household Income
$54,095
Violent Crime Index
203⚠ High
Population
136,754 ✓ Larger
Odessa
Texas
13
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.
Columbia, SC
Pros
More college-educated — 44.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $177/mo less ($1,105 vs $1,282)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.9)
Cons
Violent crime (769.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Odessa by $17,198/yr
Property crime (3232.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.9% vs 6.1%)
Odessa, TX
Pros
59% less violent crime than Columbia
Households earn $17,198 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (6.1%)
Homes cost $33k less ($193,500 vs $226,200)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.1)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Odessa
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 92.1 vs 92.9 (100 = US avg)
Odessa
Median Income
$17,198
$71,293 vs $54,095/yr
Odessa
Violent Crime
59% lower
316.3 vs 769.9 per 100k
Odessa
Median Home Value
$33k less
$193,500 vs $226,200
Odessa
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
6.1% vs 7.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Columbia, SC | Odessa, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.9 | 92.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $226,200 | $193,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,105 ✓ Lower | $1,282 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,095 | $71,293 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.9%⚠ High | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.4 min ✓ Shorter | 23.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.3% ✓ Higher | 3.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 183⚠ High | 85 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 203⚠ High | 83 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 154⚠ High | 88 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) | — |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.1:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.8% ✓ Higher | 18.4% |
| High School or Higher | 91.2% ✓ Higher | 81.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Richland 01 | UTPB STEM ACADEMY |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.3°F | 56.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.5°F | 94.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 48.7" | 12.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.4" ✓ Less | 0.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 136,754 ✓ Larger | 113,353 |
| Median Age | 28.3 | 30.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.0% | 59.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.0% | 29.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.7% ✓ More | 9.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Columbia's cost of living index is 92.9 vs Odessa's 92.1 (US average = 100).
Odessa is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Odessa leads 13 of 21 categories. Columbia wins 8 and Odessa wins 13. 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 Columbia to Odessa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($226,200 vs $193,500 median home), income ($54,095 vs $71,293), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Columbia, SC and Odessa, TX are about 1,250 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.