Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fullerton, CA
VS
Odessa, TX
🏆 Odessa leads 11 of 21 categories
Fullerton
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$99,279 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
120⚠ High
Population
142,280 ✓ Larger
Odessa
Texas
11
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.
Fullerton, CA
Pros
Households earn $27,986 more per year on average
More college-educated — 44.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 57°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 94°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $791,000
Higher rents — median is $1,989/mo
Violent crime (455.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 23% higher than Odessa
Odessa, TX
Pros
Homes cost $598k less ($193,500 vs $791,000)
Rent averages $707/mo less ($1,282 vs $1,989)
31% less violent crime than Fullerton
23% cheaper overall cost of living than Fullerton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (6.1%)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Fullerton by $27,986/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Fullerton
Median Income
$27,986
$99,279 vs $71,293/yr
Odessa
Cost of Living
23% cheaper
COL index 92.1 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Odessa
Violent Crime
31% lower
316.3 vs 455.3 per 100k
Odessa
Median Home Value
$598k less
$193,500 vs $791,000
Odessa
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
6.1% vs 6.9% unemployment
Odessa
Summer Heat
9.6°F warmer
July avg high 94.0°F vs 84.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fullerton, CA | Odessa, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 92.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $791,000⚠ High | $193,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,989⚠ High | $1,282 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $99,279 ✓ Higher | $71,293 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.0 min⚠ High | 23.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% ✓ Higher | 3.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 110⚠ High | 85 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 120⚠ High | 83 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 | 88 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | — |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 25.3:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.0% ✓ Higher | 18.4% |
| High School or Higher | 89.7% ✓ Higher | 81.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fullerton Elementary | UTPB STEM ACADEMY |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.8°F ✓ Warmer | 56.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 84.4°F | 94.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.9" ✓ Drier | 12.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 142,280 ✓ Larger | 113,353 |
| Median Age | 35.5 ✓ Older | 30.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.6% | 59.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.4% | 29.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.8% ✓ More | 9.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fullerton's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Odessa's 92.1 (US average = 100).
Odessa is 23% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Odessa leads 11 of 21 categories. Fullerton 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 Fullerton to Odessa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($791,000 vs $193,500 median home), income ($99,279 vs $71,293), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fullerton, CA and Odessa, TX are about 914 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.