Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lakeland, FL
VS
Odessa, TX
🏆 Lakeland leads 13 of 21 categories
Lakeland
Florida
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.7⚠ High
Median Household Income
$58,290
Violent Crime Index
15 ✓ Safer
Population
114,404 ✓ Larger
Odessa
Texas
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,293 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
83
Population
113,353
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lakeland, FL
Pros
82% less violent crime than Odessa
Violent crime is well below the national average (56.0 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (5.4%)
Milder winters — January highs near 74°F vs 57°F
More college-educated — 26.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Odessa by $13,003/yr
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Odessa
Odessa, TX
Pros
Households earn $13,003 more per year on average
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Lakeland
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.1)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Lakeland
Violent Crime
82% lower
56.0 vs 316.3 per 100k
Lakeland
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
5.4% vs 6.1% unemployment
Odessa
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 92.1 vs 100.7 (100 = US avg)
Odessa
Median Income
$13,003
$71,293 vs $58,290/yr
Odessa
Median Home Value
$14k less
$193,500 vs $207,800
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lakeland, FL | Odessa, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.7⚠ High | 92.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $207,800 | $193,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,217 ✓ Lower | $1,282 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,290 | $71,293 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.2 min | 23.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.4% ✓ Higher | 3.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 15 ✓ Safer | 85 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 15 ✓ Safer | 83 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 17 ✓ Safer | 88 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) | — |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.3:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.7% ✓ Higher | 18.4% |
| High School or Higher | 90.1% ✓ Higher | 81.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | POLK | UTPB STEM ACADEMY |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 73.7°F ✓ Warmer | 56.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.1°F | 94.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 52.3" | 12.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,404 ✓ Larger | 113,353 |
| Median Age | 40.6 ✓ Older | 30.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.8% | 59.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.8% | 29.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 21.7% ✓ More | 9.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lakeland's cost of living index is 100.7 vs Odessa's 92.1 (US average = 100).
Odessa is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Lakeland leads 13 of 21 categories. Lakeland wins 13 and Odessa wins 8. 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 Lakeland to Odessa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($207,800 vs $193,500 median home), income ($58,290 vs $71,293), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lakeland, FL and Odessa, TX are about 1,247 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.