Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Odessa, TX
VS
Pasadena, CA
🏆 Odessa leads 11 of 21 categories
Odessa
Texas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,293
Violent Crime Index
83 ✓ Safer
Population
113,353
Pasadena
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$97,818 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
126⚠ High
Population
137,554 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Odessa, TX
Pros
Homes cost $788k less ($193,500 vs $981,600)
Rent averages $818/mo less ($1,282 vs $2,100)
34% less violent crime than Pasadena
23% cheaper overall cost of living than Pasadena
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.1)
Cons
Median income trails Pasadena by $26,525/yr
Higher unemployment (6.1% vs 5.2%)
Pasadena, CA
Pros
Households earn $26,525 more per year on average
More college-educated — 54.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (5.2%)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 57°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $981,600
Higher rents — median is $2,100/mo
Violent crime (480.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 23% higher than Odessa
Key Differences at a Glance
Odessa
Cost of Living
23% cheaper
COL index 92.1 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Odessa
Violent Crime
34% lower
316.3 vs 480.4 per 100k
Odessa
Median Home Value
$788k less
$193,500 vs $981,600
Odessa
Summer Heat
4.9°F warmer
July avg high 94.0°F vs 89.1°F
Pasadena
Median Income
$26,525
$97,818 vs $71,293/yr
Pasadena
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
5.2% vs 6.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Odessa, TX | Pasadena, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.1 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $193,500 ✓ Lower | $981,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,282 ✓ Lower | $2,100⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,293 | $97,818 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.0 min ✓ Shorter | 27.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 3.2% | 20.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 ✓ Safer | 127⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 83 ✓ Safer | 126⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 88 ✓ Safer | 128⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | — | B+ (105) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 21.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 18.4% | 54.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.0% | 89.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | UTPB STEM ACADEMY | Pasadena Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.9°F | 68.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.0°F ✓ Warmer | 89.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.3" ✓ Drier | 20.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.9" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 113,353 | 137,554 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.7 | 39.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.1% ✓ Higher | 42.1% |
| Under 18 | 29.4% ✓ More | 17.0% |
| Over 65 | 9.9% | 16.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Odessa's cost of living index is 92.1 vs Pasadena's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Odessa is 23% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Odessa leads 11 of 21 categories. Odessa wins 11 and Pasadena wins 10. 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 Odessa to Pasadena or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($193,500 vs $981,600 median home), income ($71,293 vs $97,818), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Odessa, TX and Pasadena, CA are about 927 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.