Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fresno, CA
VS
Odessa, TX
🏆 Odessa leads 11 of 21 categories
Fresno
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$63,001
Violent Crime Index
194⚠ High
Population
541,528 ✓ Larger
Odessa
Texas
11
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.
Fresno, CA
Pros
More college-educated — 24.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $321,800
Violent crime (735.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Odessa
Property crime (3271.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Odessa, TX
Pros
Homes cost $128k less ($193,500 vs $321,800)
57% less violent crime than Fresno
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.9 pts lower (6.1%)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Fresno
Households earn $8,292 more per year on average
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.1)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Fresno
Summer Heat
3.7°F warmer
July avg high 97.7°F vs 94.0°F
Odessa
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 92.1 vs 105.0 (100 = US avg)
Odessa
Median Income
$8,292
$71,293 vs $63,001/yr
Odessa
Violent Crime
57% lower
316.3 vs 735.5 per 100k
Odessa
Median Home Value
$128k less
$193,500 vs $321,800
Odessa
Unemployment
2.9 pp lower
6.1% vs 9.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fresno, CA | Odessa, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.0⚠ High | 92.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $321,800⚠ High | $193,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,227 ✓ Lower | $1,282 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,001 | $71,293 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.0%⚠ High | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.3 min ✓ Shorter | 23.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.8% ✓ Higher | 3.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 178⚠ High | 85 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 194⚠ High | 83 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 156⚠ High | 88 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | — |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.3:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.4% ✓ Higher | 18.4% |
| High School or Higher | 79.7% | 81.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fresno Unified | UTPB STEM ACADEMY |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.4°F | 56.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 97.7°F ✓ Warmer | 94.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.4" ✓ Drier | 12.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 541,528 ✓ Larger | 113,353 |
| Median Age | 32.1 ✓ Older | 30.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.1% | 59.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.8% | 29.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.9% ✓ More | 9.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fresno's cost of living index is 105.0 vs Odessa's 92.1 (US average = 100).
Odessa is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Odessa leads 11 of 21 categories. Fresno wins 10 and Odessa wins 11. 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 Fresno to Odessa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($321,800 vs $193,500 median home), income ($63,001 vs $71,293), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fresno, CA and Odessa, TX are about 1,050 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.