Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Los Angeles, CA
VS
Odessa, TX
🏆 Odessa leads 12 of 21 categories
Los Angeles
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,244 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
192⚠ High
Population
3,881,041 ✓ Larger
Odessa
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,293
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.
Los Angeles, CA
Pros
More college-educated — 36.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 78°F vs 94°F
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 57°F
Households earn $4,951 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $822,600
Higher rents — median is $1,791/mo
Violent crime (728.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 23% higher than Odessa
Odessa, TX
Pros
Homes cost $629k less ($193,500 vs $822,600)
57% less violent crime than Los Angeles
Rent averages $509/mo less ($1,282 vs $1,791)
23% cheaper overall cost of living than Los Angeles
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (6.1%)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Los Angeles by $4,951/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Los Angeles
Median Income
$4,951
$76,244 vs $71,293/yr
Odessa
Cost of Living
23% cheaper
COL index 92.1 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Odessa
Violent Crime
57% lower
316.3 vs 728.5 per 100k
Odessa
Median Home Value
$629k less
$193,500 vs $822,600
Odessa
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
6.1% vs 7.7% unemployment
Odessa
Summer Heat
16.0°F warmer
July avg high 94.0°F vs 78.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Los Angeles, CA | Odessa, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 92.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $822,600⚠ High | $193,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,791⚠ High | $1,282 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $76,244 ✓ Higher | $71,293 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.7%⚠ High | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 23.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 15.1% ✓ Higher | 3.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 143⚠ High | 85 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 192⚠ High | 83 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 ✓ Safer | 88 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | — |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.7% ✓ Higher | 18.4% |
| High School or Higher | 78.7% | 81.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Los Angeles Unified | UTPB STEM ACADEMY |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.6°F ✓ Warmer | 56.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 78.0°F | 94.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.1" | 12.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 3,881,041 ✓ Larger | 113,353 |
| Median Age | 36.5 ✓ Older | 30.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 36.6% | 59.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.7% | 29.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.4% ✓ More | 9.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Los Angeles's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Odessa's 92.1 (US average = 100).
Odessa is 23% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Odessa leads 12 of 21 categories. Los Angeles 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 Los Angeles to Odessa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($822,600 vs $193,500 median home), income ($76,244 vs $71,293), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Los Angeles, CA and Odessa, TX are about 942 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.