Head-to-Head · City Comparison
New Orleans, LA
VS
Odessa, TX
🏆 Odessa leads 11 of 21 categories
New Orleans
Louisiana
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$51,116
Violent Crime Index
380⚠ High
Population
380,408 ✓ Larger
Odessa
Texas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.1
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 Orleans, LA
Pros
More college-educated — 40.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $120/mo less ($1,162 vs $1,282)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.1)
Cons
Median income trails Odessa by $20,177/yr
Violent crime (1444.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4640.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.4% vs 6.1%)
Odessa, TX
Pros
78% less violent crime than New Orleans
Homes cost $88k less ($193,500 vs $281,500)
Households earn $20,177 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (6.1%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.1)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
New Orleans
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 91.1 vs 92.1 (100 = US avg)
Odessa
Median Income
$20,177
$71,293 vs $51,116/yr
Odessa
Violent Crime
78% lower
316.3 vs 1444.1 per 100k
Odessa
Median Home Value
$88k less
$193,500 vs $281,500
Odessa
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
6.1% vs 8.4% unemployment
Odessa
Summer Heat
3.4°F warmer
July avg high 94.0°F vs 90.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | New Orleans, LA | Odessa, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.1 ✓ Cheaper | 92.1 |
| Median Home Value | $281,500 | $193,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,162 ✓ Lower | $1,282 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $51,116 | $71,293 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.4%⚠ High | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.4 min | 23.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% ✓ Higher | 3.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 316⚠ High | 85 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 380⚠ High | 83 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 221⚠ High | 88 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (112) | — |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.7% ✓ Higher | 18.4% |
| High School or Higher | 88.7% ✓ Higher | 81.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Einstein Charter Middle Sch at Sarah Towles Reed | UTPB STEM ACADEMY |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 61.0°F ✓ Warmer | 56.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.6°F | 94.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 60.1" | 12.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" ✓ Less | 0.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 380,408 ✓ Larger | 113,353 |
| Median Age | 37.9 ✓ Older | 30.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.3% | 59.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.6% | 29.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.9% ✓ More | 9.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
New Orleans's cost of living index is 91.1 vs Odessa's 92.1 (US average = 100).
New Orleans is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Odessa leads 11 of 21 categories. New Orleans 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 New Orleans to Odessa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($281,500 vs $193,500 median home), income ($51,116 vs $71,293), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
New Orleans, LA and Odessa, TX are about 746 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.