Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Odessa, TX
VS
Portland, OR
🏆 Odessa leads 13 of 21 categories
Odessa
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,293
Violent Crime Index
83 ✓ Safer
Population
113,353
Portland
Oregon
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$85,876 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
190⚠ High
Population
646,101 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Odessa, TX
Pros
Homes cost $330k less ($193,500 vs $523,100)
56% less violent crime than Portland
Rent averages $248/mo less ($1,282 vs $1,530)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Portland
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.1)
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 47°F
Cons
Median income trails Portland by $14,583/yr
Portland, OR
Pros
More college-educated — 52.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $14,583 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (5.6%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 94°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $523,100
Violent crime (720.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,530/mo
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Odessa
Key Differences at a Glance
Odessa
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 92.1 vs 106.6 (100 = US avg)
Odessa
Violent Crime
56% lower
316.3 vs 720.1 per 100k
Odessa
Median Home Value
$330k less
$193,500 vs $523,100
Odessa
Summer Heat
13.7°F warmer
July avg high 94.0°F vs 80.3°F
Portland
Median Income
$14,583
$85,876 vs $71,293/yr
Portland
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
5.6% vs 6.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Odessa, TX | Portland, OR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.1 ✓ Cheaper | 106.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $193,500 ✓ Lower | $523,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,282 ✓ Lower | $1,530⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,293 | $85,876 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.0 min ✓ Shorter | 24.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 3.2% | 22.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 ✓ Safer | 219⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 83 ✓ Safer | 190⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 88 ✓ Safer | 263⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | — | A- (112) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 16.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 18.4% | 52.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.0% | 93.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | UTPB STEM ACADEMY | Portland SD 1J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.9°F ✓ Warmer | 46.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.0°F ✓ Warmer | 80.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.3" ✓ Drier | 44.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.9" ✓ Less | 3.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 113,353 | 646,101 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.7 | 38.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.1% ✓ Higher | 53.3% |
| Under 18 | 29.4% ✓ More | 16.8% |
| Over 65 | 9.9% | 14.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Odessa's cost of living index is 92.1 vs Portland's 106.6 (US average = 100).
Odessa is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Odessa leads 13 of 21 categories. Odessa wins 13 and Portland wins 8. 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 Portland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($193,500 vs $523,100 median home), income ($71,293 vs $85,876), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Odessa, TX and Portland, OR are about 1,438 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.