Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Norwalk, CA
VS
Odessa, TX
🏆 Odessa leads 12 of 21 categories
Norwalk
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$91,259 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
99
Population
101,893
Odessa
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,293
Violent Crime Index
83 ✓ Safer
Population
113,353 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Norwalk, CA
Pros
Households earn $19,966 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (5.6%)
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 57°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 94°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $593,100
Higher rents — median is $1,860/mo
Cost of living runs 23% higher than Odessa
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Odessa, TX
Pros
Homes cost $400k less ($193,500 vs $593,100)
Rent averages $578/mo less ($1,282 vs $1,860)
16% less violent crime than Norwalk
23% cheaper overall cost of living than Norwalk
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.1)
Cons
Median income trails Norwalk by $19,966/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Norwalk
Median Income
$19,966
$91,259 vs $71,293/yr
Norwalk
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
5.6% vs 6.1% unemployment
Odessa
Cost of Living
23% cheaper
COL index 92.1 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Odessa
Violent Crime
16% lower
316.3 vs 374.4 per 100k
Odessa
Median Home Value
$400k less
$193,500 vs $593,100
Odessa
Summer Heat
9.6°F warmer
July avg high 94.0°F vs 84.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Norwalk, CA | Odessa, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 92.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $593,100⚠ High | $193,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,860⚠ High | $1,282 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $91,259 ✓ Higher | $71,293 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.5 min⚠ High | 23.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 5.9% ✓ Higher | 3.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 96 | 85 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 99 | 83 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 93 | 88 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) | — |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.8:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.0% ✓ Higher | 18.4% |
| High School or Higher | 76.8% | 81.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Norwalk-La Mirada Unified | UTPB STEM ACADEMY |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.8°F ✓ Warmer | 56.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 84.4°F | 94.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.2" | 12.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 101,893 | 113,353 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.6 ✓ Older | 30.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 67.6% ✓ Higher | 59.1% |
| Under 18 | 22.9% | 29.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.5% ✓ More | 9.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Norwalk'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. Norwalk 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 Norwalk to Odessa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($593,100 vs $193,500 median home), income ($91,259 vs $71,293), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Norwalk, CA and Odessa, TX are about 923 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.