Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Knoxville, TN
VS
Odessa, TX
🏆 Odessa leads 11 of 21 categories
Knoxville
Tennessee
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8
Median Household Income
$48,309
Violent Crime Index
195⚠ High
Population
191,857 ✓ 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.
Knoxville, TN
Pros
Rent averages $239/mo less ($1,043 vs $1,282)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (4.8%)
More college-educated — 33.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.8)
Cooler summers — July highs near 88°F vs 94°F
Cons
Median income trails Odessa by $22,984/yr
Violent crime (740.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2721.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Odessa, TX
Pros
57% less violent crime than Knoxville
Households earn $22,984 more per year on average
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.1)
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 48°F
Cons
Higher unemployment (6.1% vs 4.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Knoxville
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
4.8% vs 6.1% unemployment
Odessa
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 92.1 vs 92.8 (100 = US avg)
Odessa
Median Income
$22,984
$71,293 vs $48,309/yr
Odessa
Violent Crime
57% lower
316.3 vs 740.3 per 100k
Odessa
Summer Heat
5.7°F warmer
July avg high 94.0°F vs 88.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Knoxville, TN | Odessa, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.8 | 92.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $184,200 ✓ Lower | $193,500 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,043 ✓ Lower | $1,282 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $48,309 | $71,293 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.5 min ✓ Shorter | 23.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.1% ✓ Higher | 3.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 169⚠ High | 85 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 195⚠ High | 83 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 130⚠ High | 88 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) | — |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.1% ✓ Higher | 18.4% |
| High School or Higher | 90.2% ✓ Higher | 81.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Knox County | UTPB STEM ACADEMY |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.9°F | 56.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.3°F | 94.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.8" | 12.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 4.6" | 0.9" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 191,857 ✓ Larger | 113,353 |
| Median Age | 33.4 ✓ Older | 30.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 46.2% | 59.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.2% | 29.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.2% ✓ More | 9.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Knoxville's cost of living index is 92.8 vs Odessa's 92.1 (US average = 100).
Odessa is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Odessa leads 11 of 21 categories. Knoxville 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 Knoxville to Odessa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($184,200 vs $193,500 median home), income ($48,309 vs $71,293), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Knoxville, TN and Odessa, TX are about 1,090 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.