Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Odessa, TX
VS
Providence, RI
🏆 Odessa leads 11 of 21 categories
Odessa
Texas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,293 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
83
Population
113,353
Providence
Rhode Island
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$61,365
Violent Crime Index
73 ✓ Safer
Population
189,715 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Odessa, TX
Pros
Homes cost $100k less ($193,500 vs $293,000)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (6.1%)
Households earn $9,928 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 38°F
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Providence
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.1)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Providence, RI
Pros
13% less violent crime than Odessa
More college-educated — 34.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 94°F
Cons
Median income trails Odessa by $9,928/yr
Higher unemployment (7.2% vs 6.1%)
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Odessa
Key Differences at a Glance
Odessa
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 92.1 vs 100.9 (100 = US avg)
Odessa
Median Income
$9,928
$71,293 vs $61,365/yr
Odessa
Median Home Value
$100k less
$193,500 vs $293,000
Odessa
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
6.1% vs 7.2% unemployment
Odessa
Summer Heat
10.4°F warmer
July avg high 94.0°F vs 83.6°F
Providence
Violent Crime
13% lower
276.7 vs 316.3 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Odessa, TX | Providence, RI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.1 ✓ Cheaper | 100.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $193,500 ✓ Lower | $293,000 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,282 | $1,214 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,293 ✓ Higher | $61,365 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.0 min ✓ Shorter | 24.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 3.2% | 11.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 | 75 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 83 | 73 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 88 | 79 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | — | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 14.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 18.4% | 34.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.0% | 82.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | UTPB STEM ACADEMY | Providence |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.9°F ✓ Warmer | 38.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.0°F ✓ Warmer | 83.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.3" ✓ Drier | 47.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.9" ✓ Less | 36.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 113,353 | 189,715 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.7 | 32.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.1% ✓ Higher | 39.9% |
| Under 18 | 29.4% ✓ More | 20.7% |
| Over 65 | 9.9% | 11.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Odessa's cost of living index is 92.1 vs Providence's 100.9 (US average = 100).
Odessa is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Odessa leads 11 of 21 categories. Odessa wins 11 and Providence 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 Providence or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($193,500 vs $293,000 median home), income ($71,293 vs $61,365), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Odessa, TX and Providence, RI are about 1,830 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.