Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Odessa, TX
VS
Pearland, TX
🏆 Pearland leads 14 of 21 categories
Odessa
Texas
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,293
Violent Crime Index
83
Population
113,353
Pearland
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$111,123 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
25 ✓ Safer
Population
124,478 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Odessa, TX
Pros
Homes cost $118k less ($193,500 vs $311,100)
Rent averages $340/mo less ($1,282 vs $1,622)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Pearland
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.1)
Cons
Median income trails Pearland by $39,830/yr
Higher unemployment (6.1% vs 3.2%)
Pearland, TX
Pros
70% less violent crime than Odessa
Households earn $39,830 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.9 pts lower (3.2%)
More college-educated — 47.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (95.9 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 57°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $311,100
Higher rents — median is $1,622/mo
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Odessa
Longer commutes — 33.6 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Odessa
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 92.1 vs 100.2 (100 = US avg)
Odessa
Median Home Value
$118k less
$193,500 vs $311,100
Pearland
Median Income
$39,830
$111,123 vs $71,293/yr
Pearland
Violent Crime
70% lower
95.9 vs 316.3 per 100k
Pearland
Unemployment
2.9 pp lower
3.2% vs 6.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Odessa, TX | Pearland, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.1 ✓ Cheaper | 100.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $193,500 ✓ Lower | $311,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,282 ✓ Lower | $1,622⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,293 | $111,123 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High | 3.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.0 min ✓ Shorter | 33.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 3.2% | 10.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 | 43 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 83 | 25 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 88 | 69 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | — | A- (115) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 16.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 18.4% | 47.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.0% | 94.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | UTPB STEM ACADEMY | PEARLAND ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.9°F | 64.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.0°F ✓ Warmer | 93.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.3" ✓ Drier | 53.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.9" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 113,353 | 124,478 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.7 | 36.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.1% | 76.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 29.4% ✓ More | 28.0% |
| Over 65 | 9.9% | 11.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Odessa's cost of living index is 92.1 vs Pearland's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Odessa is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Pearland leads 14 of 21 categories. Odessa wins 7 and Pearland 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 Odessa to Pearland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($193,500 vs $311,100 median home), income ($71,293 vs $111,123), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Odessa, TX and Pearland, TX are about 447 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.