Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Midland, TX
VS
Odessa, TX
🏆 Midland leads 13 of 21 categories
Midland
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.8
Median Household Income
$90,448 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
96
Population
132,490 ✓ Larger
Odessa
Texas
8
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.
Midland, TX
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.9 pts lower (3.2%)
Households earn $19,155 more per year on average
More college-educated — 31.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.8)
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,400/mo
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Odessa
Odessa, TX
Pros
Homes cost $87k less ($193,500 vs $280,700)
13% less violent crime than Midland
Rent averages $118/mo less ($1,282 vs $1,400)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.1)
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Midland
Cons
Median income trails Midland by $19,155/yr
Higher unemployment (6.1% vs 3.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Midland
Median Income
$19,155
$90,448 vs $71,293/yr
Midland
Unemployment
2.9 pp lower
3.2% vs 6.1% unemployment
Odessa
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 92.1 vs 94.8 (100 = US avg)
Odessa
Violent Crime
13% lower
316.3 vs 364.9 per 100k
Odessa
Median Home Value
$87k less
$193,500 vs $280,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Midland, TX | Odessa, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.8 | 92.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $280,700 | $193,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,400⚠ High | $1,282 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $90,448 ✓ Higher | $71,293 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.2% ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.9 min ✓ Shorter | 23.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 5.6% ✓ Higher | 3.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 88 | 85 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 | 83 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 77 ✓ Safer | 88 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) | — |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.8:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.8% ✓ Higher | 18.4% |
| High School or Higher | 84.9% ✓ Higher | 81.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | MIDLAND ISD | UTPB STEM ACADEMY |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 60.3°F ✓ Warmer | 56.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.3°F ✓ Warmer | 94.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.7" | 12.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.9" | 0.9" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 132,490 ✓ Larger | 113,353 |
| Median Age | 31.4 ✓ Older | 30.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.9% ✓ Higher | 59.1% |
| Under 18 | 28.5% | 29.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.2% ✓ More | 9.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Midland's cost of living index is 94.8 vs Odessa's 92.1 (US average = 100).
Odessa is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Midland leads 13 of 21 categories. Midland 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 Midland to Odessa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($280,700 vs $193,500 median home), income ($90,448 vs $71,293), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Midland, TX and Odessa, TX are about 17 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.