Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Las Vegas, NV
VS
Odessa, TX
🏆 Odessa leads 11 of 21 categories
Las Vegas
Nevada
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$66,356
Violent Crime Index
113⚠ High
Population
644,835 ✓ 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.
Las Vegas, NV
Pros
More college-educated — 26.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $365,300
Property crime (2622.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.4% vs 6.1%)
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Odessa
Odessa, TX
Pros
Homes cost $172k less ($193,500 vs $365,300)
26% less violent crime than Las Vegas
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (6.1%)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Las Vegas
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.1)
Cooler summers — July highs near 94°F vs 104°F
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Las Vegas
Summer Heat
9.8°F warmer
July avg high 103.8°F vs 94.0°F
Odessa
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 92.1 vs 101.6 (100 = US avg)
Odessa
Median Income
$4,937
$71,293 vs $66,356/yr
Odessa
Violent Crime
26% lower
316.3 vs 429.8 per 100k
Odessa
Median Home Value
$172k less
$193,500 vs $365,300
Odessa
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
6.1% vs 7.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Las Vegas, NV | Odessa, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 101.6⚠ High | 92.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $365,300⚠ High | $193,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,356⚠ High | $1,282 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,356 | $71,293 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.4%⚠ High | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.9 min | 23.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.1% ✓ Higher | 3.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 118⚠ High | 85 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 113⚠ High | 83 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 125⚠ High | 88 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | — |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.3:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.3% ✓ Higher | 18.4% |
| High School or Higher | 85.6% ✓ Higher | 81.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Clark County | UTPB STEM ACADEMY |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.0°F ✓ Warmer | 56.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 103.8°F ✓ Warmer | 94.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 6.1" ✓ Drier | 12.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 644,835 ✓ Larger | 113,353 |
| Median Age | 38.1 ✓ Older | 30.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.8% | 59.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.9% | 29.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.3% ✓ More | 9.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Las Vegas's cost of living index is 101.6 vs Odessa's 92.1 (US average = 100).
Odessa is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Odessa leads 11 of 21 categories. Las Vegas 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 Las Vegas to Odessa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($365,300 vs $193,500 median home), income ($66,356 vs $71,293), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Las Vegas, NV and Odessa, TX are about 797 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.