Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Jacksonville, FL
VS
Odessa, TX
🏆 Odessa leads 11 of 21 categories
Jacksonville
Florida
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
99.2
Median Household Income
$64,138
Violent Crime Index
164⚠ High
Population
950,203 ✓ 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.
Jacksonville, FL
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (4.8%)
More college-educated — 31.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 57°F
Cons
Violent crime (623.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2494.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Odessa by $7,155/yr
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Odessa
Odessa, TX
Pros
49% less violent crime than Jacksonville
Homes cost $50k less ($193,500 vs $243,000)
Households earn $7,155 more per year on average
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.1)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Jacksonville
Cons
Higher unemployment (6.1% vs 4.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Jacksonville
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
4.8% vs 6.1% unemployment
Odessa
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 92.1 vs 99.2 (100 = US avg)
Odessa
Median Income
$7,155
$71,293 vs $64,138/yr
Odessa
Violent Crime
49% lower
316.3 vs 623.8 per 100k
Odessa
Median Home Value
$50k less
$193,500 vs $243,000
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Jacksonville, FL | Odessa, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 99.2 | 92.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $243,000 | $193,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,281 ✓ Lower | $1,282 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,138 | $71,293 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.4 min | 23.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.1% ✓ Higher | 3.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 146⚠ High | 85 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 164⚠ High | 83 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 119⚠ High | 88 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) | — |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.1:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.0% ✓ Higher | 18.4% |
| High School or Higher | 90.5% ✓ Higher | 81.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | DUVAL | UTPB STEM ACADEMY |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.5°F ✓ Warmer | 56.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.8°F | 94.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 53.1" | 12.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 950,203 ✓ Larger | 113,353 |
| Median Age | 36.3 ✓ Older | 30.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.0% | 59.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.6% | 29.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.4% ✓ More | 9.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Jacksonville's cost of living index is 99.2 vs Odessa's 92.1 (US average = 100).
Odessa is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Odessa leads 11 of 21 categories. Jacksonville 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 Jacksonville to Odessa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($243,000 vs $193,500 median home), income ($64,138 vs $71,293), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Jacksonville, FL and Odessa, TX are about 1,226 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.