Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fayetteville, NC
VS
Odessa, TX
🏆 Odessa leads 12 of 21 categories
Fayetteville
North Carolina
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$53,424
Violent Crime Index
174⚠ High
Population
208,697 ✓ Larger
Odessa
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.1
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.
Fayetteville, NC
Pros
Homes cost $35k less ($158,500 vs $193,500)
Rent averages $165/mo less ($1,117 vs $1,282)
More college-educated — 28.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
Cons
Median income trails Odessa by $17,869/yr
Violent crime (660.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3094.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.4% vs 6.1%)
Odessa, TX
Pros
52% less violent crime than Fayetteville
Households earn $17,869 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (6.1%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.1)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Fayetteville
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 92.1 (100 = US avg)
Fayetteville
Median Home Value
$35k less
$158,500 vs $193,500
Odessa
Median Income
$17,869
$71,293 vs $53,424/yr
Odessa
Violent Crime
52% lower
316.3 vs 660.2 per 100k
Odessa
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
6.1% vs 8.4% unemployment
Odessa
Summer Heat
3.1°F warmer
July avg high 94.0°F vs 90.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fayetteville, NC | Odessa, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper | 92.1 |
| Median Home Value | $158,500 ✓ Lower | $193,500 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,117 ✓ Lower | $1,282 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $53,424 | $71,293 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.4%⚠ High | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.0 min ✓ Shorter | 23.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 5.4% ✓ Higher | 3.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 163⚠ High | 85 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 174⚠ High | 83 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 147⚠ High | 88 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | — |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.8:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.5% ✓ Higher | 18.4% |
| High School or Higher | 93.1% ✓ Higher | 81.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cumberland County Schools | UTPB STEM ACADEMY |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.1°F | 56.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.9°F | 94.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.9" | 12.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.2" | 0.9" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 208,697 ✓ Larger | 113,353 |
| Median Age | 30.5 | 30.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.4% | 59.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.6% | 29.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.6% ✓ More | 9.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fayetteville's cost of living index is 91.4 vs Odessa's 92.1 (US average = 100).
Fayetteville is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Odessa leads 12 of 21 categories. Fayetteville 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 Fayetteville to Odessa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($158,500 vs $193,500 median home), income ($53,424 vs $71,293), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fayetteville, NC and Odessa, TX are about 1,362 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.