Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Minneapolis, MN
VS
Odessa, TX
🏆 Odessa leads 11 of 21 categories
Minneapolis
Minnesota
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,332 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
305⚠ High
Population
426,877 ✓ Larger
Odessa
Texas
11
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.
Minneapolis, MN
Pros
More college-educated — 53.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 94°F
Households earn $5,039 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $328,700
Violent crime (1160.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Odessa
Property crime (5142.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Odessa, TX
Pros
Homes cost $135k less ($193,500 vs $328,700)
73% less violent crime than Minneapolis
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 22°F
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Minneapolis
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.1)
Cons
Median income trails Minneapolis by $5,039/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Minneapolis
Median Income
$5,039
$76,332 vs $71,293/yr
Odessa
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 92.1 vs 104.5 (100 = US avg)
Odessa
Violent Crime
73% lower
316.3 vs 1160.2 per 100k
Odessa
Median Home Value
$135k less
$193,500 vs $328,700
Odessa
Summer Heat
10.9°F warmer
July avg high 94.0°F vs 83.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Minneapolis, MN | Odessa, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.5⚠ High | 92.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $328,700⚠ High | $193,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,267 ✓ Lower | $1,282 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $76,332 ✓ Higher | $71,293 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.9 min ✓ Shorter | 23.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 19.6% ✓ Higher | 3.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 281⚠ High | 85 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 305⚠ High | 83 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 245⚠ High | 88 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) | — |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.9:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 53.5% ✓ Higher | 18.4% |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% ✓ Higher | 81.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Minneapolis Public School District | UTPB STEM ACADEMY |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 21.7°F | 56.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.1°F | 94.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 33.3" | 12.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 40.4" | 0.9" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 426,877 ✓ Larger | 113,353 |
| Median Age | 32.8 ✓ Older | 30.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.1% | 59.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.1% | 29.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.7% ✓ More | 9.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Minneapolis's cost of living index is 104.5 vs Odessa's 92.1 (US average = 100).
Odessa is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Odessa leads 11 of 21 categories. Minneapolis 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 Minneapolis to Odessa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($328,700 vs $193,500 median home), income ($76,332 vs $71,293), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Minneapolis, MN and Odessa, TX are about 1,027 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.