Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Norwalk, CT
VS
Odessa, TX
🏆 Odessa leads 11 of 21 categories
Norwalk
Connecticut
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$97,879 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
22 ✓ Safer
Population
91,050
Odessa
Texas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,293
Violent Crime Index
83
Population
113,353 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Norwalk, CT
Pros
73% less violent crime than Odessa
Households earn $26,586 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (85.0 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 42.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 94°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $491,800
Higher rents — median is $1,861/mo
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Odessa
Odessa, TX
Pros
Homes cost $298k less ($193,500 vs $491,800)
Rent averages $579/mo less ($1,282 vs $1,861)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Norwalk
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 38°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.1)
Cons
Median income trails Norwalk by $26,586/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Norwalk
Median Income
$26,586
$97,879 vs $71,293/yr
Norwalk
Violent Crime
73% lower
85.0 vs 316.3 per 100k
Odessa
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 92.1 vs 106.5 (100 = US avg)
Odessa
Median Home Value
$298k less
$193,500 vs $491,800
Odessa
Summer Heat
9.2°F warmer
July avg high 94.0°F vs 84.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Norwalk, CT | Odessa, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.5⚠ High | 92.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $491,800⚠ High | $193,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,861⚠ High | $1,282 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $97,879 ✓ Higher | $71,293 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.3 min | 23.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.4% ✓ Higher | 3.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 42 ✓ Safer | 85 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 22 ✓ Safer | 83 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 88 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (113) | — |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.5:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.6% ✓ Higher | 18.4% |
| High School or Higher | 88.6% ✓ Higher | 81.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Norwalk School District | UTPB STEM ACADEMY |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.0°F | 56.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.8°F | 94.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.4" | 12.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 34.0" | 0.9" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,050 | 113,353 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.0 ✓ Older | 30.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.8% | 59.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.4% | 29.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.8% ✓ More | 9.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Norwalk's cost of living index is 106.5 vs Odessa's 92.1 (US average = 100).
Odessa is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Odessa leads 11 of 21 categories. Norwalk 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 Norwalk to Odessa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($491,800 vs $193,500 median home), income ($97,879 vs $71,293), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Norwalk, CT and Odessa, TX are about 1,718 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.