Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hemet, CA
VS
Odessa, TX
🏆 Odessa leads 12 of 21 categories
Hemet
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$49,901
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High
Population
89,651
Odessa
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,293 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
83 ✓ Safer
Population
113,353 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Hemet, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 57°F
Cons
Median income trails Odessa by $21,392/yr
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Odessa
Higher unemployment (9.5% vs 6.1%)
Longer commutes — 36.8 min average each way
Odessa, TX
Pros
Homes cost $84k less ($193,500 vs $277,200)
Households earn $21,392 more per year on average
26% less violent crime than Hemet
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.4 pts lower (6.1%)
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Hemet
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Odessa
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 92.1 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Odessa
Median Income
$21,392
$71,293 vs $49,901/yr
Odessa
Violent Crime
26% lower
316.3 vs 424.8 per 100k
Odessa
Median Home Value
$84k less
$193,500 vs $277,200
Odessa
Unemployment
3.4 pp lower
6.1% vs 9.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hemet, CA | Odessa, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High | 92.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $277,200 | $193,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,357⚠ High | $1,282 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $49,901 | $71,293 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.5%⚠ High | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 36.8 min⚠ High | 23.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.6% ✓ Higher | 3.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 98 | 85 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High | 83 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 78 ✓ Safer | 88 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (78) | — |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.9:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 13.9% | 18.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 79.9% | 81.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hemet Unified | UTPB STEM ACADEMY |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.8°F ✓ Warmer | 56.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.1°F ✓ Warmer | 94.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.2" ✓ Drier | 12.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 89,651 | 113,353 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.0 ✓ Older | 30.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.1% ✓ Higher | 59.1% |
| Under 18 | 24.1% | 29.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 22.4% ✓ More | 9.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hemet's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Odessa's 92.1 (US average = 100).
Odessa is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Odessa leads 12 of 21 categories. Hemet 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 Hemet to Odessa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($277,200 vs $193,500 median home), income ($49,901 vs $71,293), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hemet, CA and Odessa, TX are about 860 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.