Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Kansas City, MO
VS
Odessa, TX
🏆 Odessa leads 12 of 21 categories
Kansas City
Missouri
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3
Median Household Income
$65,256
Violent Crime Index
407⚠ High
Population
505,958 ✓ Larger
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
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Kansas City, MO
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (4.8%)
More college-educated — 37.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $151/mo less ($1,131 vs $1,282)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Cons
Violent crime (1547.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4676.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Odessa by $6,037/yr
Odessa, TX
Pros
80% less violent crime than Kansas City
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 40°F
Households earn $6,037 more per year on average
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.1)
Homes cost $15k less ($193,500 vs $208,900)
Cons
Higher unemployment (6.1% vs 4.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Kansas City
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
4.8% vs 6.1% unemployment
Odessa
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 92.1 vs 93.3 (100 = US avg)
Odessa
Median Income
$6,037
$71,293 vs $65,256/yr
Odessa
Violent Crime
80% lower
316.3 vs 1547.1 per 100k
Odessa
Median Home Value
$15k less
$193,500 vs $208,900
Odessa
Summer Heat
3.8°F warmer
July avg high 94.0°F vs 90.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Kansas City, MO | Odessa, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 | 92.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $208,900 | $193,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,131 ✓ Lower | $1,282 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $65,256 | $71,293 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.0 min ✓ Shorter | 23.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 12.2% ✓ Higher | 3.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 333⚠ High | 85 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 407⚠ High | 83 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 223⚠ High | 88 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) | — |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.4:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.1% ✓ Higher | 18.4% |
| High School or Higher | 91.5% ✓ Higher | 81.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | KANSAS CITY 33 | UTPB STEM ACADEMY |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.9°F | 56.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.2°F | 94.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.1" | 12.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 11.0" | 0.9" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 505,958 ✓ Larger | 113,353 |
| Median Age | 35.4 ✓ Older | 30.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.0% | 59.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.4% | 29.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.9% ✓ More | 9.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Kansas City's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Odessa's 92.1 (US average = 100).
Odessa is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Odessa leads 12 of 21 categories. Kansas City 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 Kansas City to Odessa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($208,900 vs $193,500 median home), income ($65,256 vs $71,293), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Kansas City, MO and Odessa, TX are about 665 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.