Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Edinburg, TX
VS
Odessa, TX
🏆 Edinburg leads 12 of 21 categories
Edinburg
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,139
Violent Crime Index
71 ✓ Safer
Population
100,964
Odessa
Texas
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.1
Median Household Income
$71,293 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
83
Population
113,353 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Edinburg, TX
Pros
Rent averages $362/mo less ($920 vs $1,282)
15% less violent crime than Odessa
Homes cost $34k less ($159,600 vs $193,500)
More college-educated — 28.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 57°F
Cons
Median income trails Odessa by $17,154/yr
Higher unemployment (7.2% vs 6.1%)
Odessa, TX
Pros
Households earn $17,154 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (6.1%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.1)
Cons
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Edinburg
Key Differences at a Glance
Edinburg
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 85.6 vs 92.1 (100 = US avg)
Edinburg
Violent Crime
15% lower
269.6 vs 316.3 per 100k
Edinburg
Median Home Value
$34k less
$159,600 vs $193,500
Odessa
Median Income
$17,154
$71,293 vs $54,139/yr
Odessa
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
6.1% vs 7.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Edinburg, TX | Odessa, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.6 ✓ Cheaper | 92.1 |
| Median Home Value | $159,600 ✓ Lower | $193,500 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $920 ✓ Lower | $1,282 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,139 | $71,293 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.2%⚠ High | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.8 min ✓ Shorter | 23.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.3% ✓ Higher | 3.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 76 ✓ Safer | 85 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 ✓ Safer | 83 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 ✓ Safer | 88 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) | — |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.7:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.4% ✓ Higher | 18.4% |
| High School or Higher | 79.8% | 81.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | EDINBURG CISD | UTPB STEM ACADEMY |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.2°F ✓ Warmer | 56.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.7°F ✓ Warmer | 94.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 26.0" | 12.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 0.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 100,964 | 113,353 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 29.9 | 30.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.6% | 59.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.7% | 29.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 9.5% | 9.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Edinburg's cost of living index is 85.6 vs Odessa's 92.1 (US average = 100).
Edinburg is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Edinburg leads 12 of 21 categories. Edinburg wins 12 and Odessa wins 9. 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 Edinburg to Odessa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($159,600 vs $193,500 median home), income ($54,139 vs $71,293), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Edinburg, TX and Odessa, TX are about 460 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.