Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fairfield, CA
VS
Odessa, TX
🏆 Fairfield leads 11 of 21 categories
Fairfield
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
109.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$98,857 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
131⚠ High
Population
119,420 ✓ Larger
Odessa
Texas
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,293
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.
Fairfield, CA
Pros
Households earn $27,564 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (5.5%)
More college-educated — 27.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $546,200
Higher rents — median is $2,047/mo
Violent crime (498.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 17% higher than Odessa
Odessa, TX
Pros
Homes cost $353k less ($193,500 vs $546,200)
Rent averages $765/mo less ($1,282 vs $2,047)
36% less violent crime than Fairfield
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Fairfield
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.1)
Cons
Median income trails Fairfield by $27,564/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Fairfield
Median Income
$27,564
$98,857 vs $71,293/yr
Fairfield
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
5.5% vs 6.1% unemployment
Odessa
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 92.1 vs 109.2 (100 = US avg)
Odessa
Violent Crime
36% lower
316.3 vs 498.0 per 100k
Odessa
Median Home Value
$353k less
$193,500 vs $546,200
Odessa
Summer Heat
4.4°F warmer
July avg high 94.0°F vs 89.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fairfield, CA | Odessa, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 109.2⚠ High | 92.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $546,200⚠ High | $193,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,047⚠ High | $1,282 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $98,857 ✓ Higher | $71,293 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.3 min⚠ High | 23.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% ✓ Higher | 3.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 111⚠ High | 85 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 131⚠ High | 83 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 ✓ Safer | 88 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | — |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.1:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.8% ✓ Higher | 18.4% |
| High School or Higher | 87.0% ✓ Higher | 81.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fairfield-Suisun Unified | UTPB STEM ACADEMY |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.6°F | 56.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F | 94.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.5" | 12.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 119,420 ✓ Larger | 113,353 |
| Median Age | 35.8 ✓ Older | 30.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% ✓ Higher | 59.1% |
| Under 18 | 24.7% | 29.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.9% ✓ More | 9.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fairfield's cost of living index is 109.2 vs Odessa's 92.1 (US average = 100).
Odessa is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Fairfield leads 11 of 21 categories. Fairfield wins 11 and Odessa wins 10. 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 Fairfield to Odessa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($546,200 vs $193,500 median home), income ($98,857 vs $71,293), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fairfield, CA and Odessa, TX are about 1,194 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.