Head-to-Head · City Comparison
New Haven, CT
VS
Odessa, TX
🏆 Odessa leads 14 of 21 categories
New Haven
Connecticut
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.6
Median Household Income
$54,305
Violent Crime Index
141⚠ High
Population
135,736 ✓ Larger
Odessa
Texas
14
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.
New Haven, CT
Pros
More college-educated — 38.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 94°F
Cons
Violent crime (534.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Odessa by $16,988/yr
Property crime (3587.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.8% vs 6.1%)
Odessa, TX
Pros
41% less violent crime than New Haven
Households earn $16,988 more per year on average
Homes cost $43k less ($193,500 vs $236,500)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (6.1%)
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 38°F
Rent averages $120/mo less ($1,282 vs $1,402)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Odessa
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 92.1 vs 98.6 (100 = US avg)
Odessa
Median Income
$16,988
$71,293 vs $54,305/yr
Odessa
Violent Crime
41% lower
316.3 vs 534.8 per 100k
Odessa
Median Home Value
$43k less
$193,500 vs $236,500
Odessa
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
6.1% vs 7.8% unemployment
Odessa
Summer Heat
11.9°F warmer
July avg high 94.0°F vs 82.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | New Haven, CT | Odessa, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.6 | 92.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $236,500 | $193,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,402⚠ High | $1,282 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,305 | $71,293 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.8%⚠ High | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.7 min ✓ Shorter | 23.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.6% ✓ Higher | 3.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 153⚠ High | 85 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 141⚠ High | 83 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 171⚠ High | 88 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) | — |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.0:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 38.5% ✓ Higher | 18.4% |
| High School or Higher | 85.7% ✓ Higher | 81.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | New Haven School District | UTPB STEM ACADEMY |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.1°F | 56.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.1°F | 94.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.8" | 12.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.6" | 0.9" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 135,736 ✓ Larger | 113,353 |
| Median Age | 31.0 ✓ Older | 30.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 28.6% | 59.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.0% | 29.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.8% ✓ More | 9.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
New Haven's cost of living index is 98.6 vs Odessa's 92.1 (US average = 100).
Odessa is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Odessa leads 14 of 21 categories. New Haven wins 7 and Odessa wins 14. 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 New Haven to Odessa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($236,500 vs $193,500 median home), income ($54,305 vs $71,293), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
New Haven, CT and Odessa, TX are about 1,747 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.