Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Odessa, TX
VS
Plano, TX
🏆 Plano leads 12 of 21 categories
Odessa
Texas
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,293
Violent Crime Index
83
Population
113,353
Plano
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$105,679 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
40 ✓ Safer
Population
284,948 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Odessa, TX
Pros
Homes cost $219k less ($193,500 vs $412,500)
Rent averages $417/mo less ($1,282 vs $1,699)
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Plano
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.1)
Cons
Median income trails Plano by $34,386/yr
Higher unemployment (6.1% vs 4.4%)
Plano, TX
Pros
52% less violent crime than Odessa
Households earn $34,386 more per year on average
More college-educated — 58.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (151.6 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (4.4%)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $412,500
Higher rents — median is $1,699/mo
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Odessa
Key Differences at a Glance
Odessa
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 92.1 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Odessa
Median Home Value
$219k less
$193,500 vs $412,500
Plano
Median Income
$34,386
$105,679 vs $71,293/yr
Plano
Violent Crime
52% lower
151.6 vs 316.3 per 100k
Plano
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
4.4% vs 6.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Odessa, TX | Plano, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.1 ✓ Cheaper | 103.3⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $193,500 ✓ Lower | $412,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,282 ✓ Lower | $1,699⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,293 | $105,679 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.0 min ✓ Shorter | 25.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 3.2% | 22.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 | 52 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 83 | 40 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 88 | 70 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | — | A+ (134) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 13.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 18.4% | 58.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.0% | 93.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | UTPB STEM ACADEMY | PLANO ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.9°F ✓ Warmer | 55.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.0°F | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.3" ✓ Drier | 40.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.9" ✓ Less | 2.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 113,353 | 284,948 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.7 | 38.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.1% ✓ Higher | 56.7% |
| Under 18 | 29.4% ✓ More | 21.7% |
| Over 65 | 9.9% | 13.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Odessa's cost of living index is 92.1 vs Plano's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Odessa is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Plano leads 12 of 21 categories. Odessa wins 9 and Plano 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 Odessa to Plano or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($193,500 vs $412,500 median home), income ($71,293 vs $105,679), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Odessa, TX and Plano, TX are about 336 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.