Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Dayton, OH
VS
Odessa, TX
🏆 Odessa leads 12 of 21 categories
Dayton
Ohio
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.3
Median Household Income
$41,443
Violent Crime Index
352⚠ High
Population
137,305 ✓ 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.
Dayton, OH
Pros
Homes cost $107k less ($86,200 vs $193,500)
Rent averages $452/mo less ($830 vs $1,282)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.3)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 94°F
Cons
Median income trails Odessa by $29,850/yr
Violent crime (1339.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4334.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (10.0% vs 6.1%)
Odessa, TX
Pros
Households earn $29,850 more per year on average
76% less violent crime than Dayton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.9 pts lower (6.1%)
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 36°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.1)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Dayton
Median Home Value
$107k less
$86,200 vs $193,500
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 92.3 on the COL index
Odessa
Median Income
$29,850
$71,293 vs $41,443/yr
Odessa
Violent Crime
76% lower
316.3 vs 1339.2 per 100k
Odessa
Unemployment
3.9 pp lower
6.1% vs 10.0% unemployment
Odessa
Summer Heat
7.3°F warmer
July avg high 94.0°F vs 86.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Dayton, OH | Odessa, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.3 | 92.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $86,200 ✓ Lower | $193,500 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $830 ✓ Lower | $1,282 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $41,443 | $71,293 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.0%⚠ High | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.1 min ✓ Shorter | 23.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.7% ✓ Higher | 3.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 294⚠ High | 85 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 352⚠ High | 83 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 206⚠ High | 88 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (77) | — |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.1:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.6% ✓ Higher | 18.4% |
| High School or Higher | 86.4% ✓ Higher | 81.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Dayton City | UTPB STEM ACADEMY |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.3°F | 56.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.7°F | 94.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.6" | 12.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 12.3" | 0.9" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 137,305 ✓ Larger | 113,353 |
| Median Age | 34.0 ✓ Older | 30.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.4% | 59.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.9% | 29.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.4% ✓ More | 9.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Dayton's cost of living index is 92.3 vs Odessa's 92.1 (US average = 100).
Odessa is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Odessa leads 12 of 21 categories. Dayton 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 Dayton to Odessa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($86,200 vs $193,500 median home), income ($41,443 vs $71,293), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Dayton, OH and Odessa, TX are about 1,151 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.