Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Elk Grove, CA
VS
Odessa, TX
🏆 Elk Grove leads 12 of 21 categories
Elk Grove
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$115,864 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
50 ✓ Safer
Population
176,105 ✓ Larger
Odessa
Texas
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,293
Violent Crime Index
83
Population
113,353
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Elk Grove, CA
Pros
Households earn $44,571 more per year on average
40% less violent crime than Odessa
Violent crime is well below the national average (189.9 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 37.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $560,500
Higher rents — median is $2,076/mo
Cost of living runs 17% higher than Odessa
Longer commutes — 33.1 min average each way
Odessa, TX
Pros
Homes cost $367k less ($193,500 vs $560,500)
Rent averages $794/mo less ($1,282 vs $2,076)
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Elk Grove
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.1)
Cons
Median income trails Elk Grove by $44,571/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Elk Grove
Median Income
$44,571
$115,864 vs $71,293/yr
Elk Grove
Violent Crime
40% lower
189.9 vs 316.3 per 100k
Odessa
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 92.1 vs 108.9 (100 = US avg)
Odessa
Median Home Value
$367k less
$193,500 vs $560,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Elk Grove, CA | Odessa, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.9⚠ High | 92.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $560,500⚠ High | $193,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,076⚠ High | $1,282 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $115,864 ✓ Higher | $71,293 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.4%⚠ High | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.1 min⚠ High | 23.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.7% ✓ Higher | 3.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 53 ✓ Safer | 85 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 50 ✓ Safer | 83 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 59 ✓ Safer | 88 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) | — |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.7:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.0% ✓ Higher | 18.4% |
| High School or Higher | 90.7% ✓ Higher | 81.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elk Grove Unified | UTPB STEM ACADEMY |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.0°F | 56.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.6°F | 94.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 18.1" | 12.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 176,105 ✓ Larger | 113,353 |
| Median Age | 38.7 ✓ Older | 30.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 73.8% ✓ Higher | 59.1% |
| Under 18 | 25.9% | 29.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.3% ✓ More | 9.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Elk Grove's cost of living index is 108.9 vs Odessa's 92.1 (US average = 100).
Odessa is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Elk Grove leads 12 of 21 categories. Elk Grove 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 Elk Grove to Odessa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($560,500 vs $193,500 median home), income ($115,864 vs $71,293), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Elk Grove, CA and Odessa, TX are about 1,164 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.