Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Odessa, TX
VS
Renton, WA
🏆 Odessa leads 14 of 21 categories
Odessa
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,293
Violent Crime Index
83 ✓ Safer
Population
113,353 ✓ Larger
Renton
Washington
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$92,292 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
89
Population
105,355
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Odessa, TX
Pros
Homes cost $383k less ($193,500 vs $576,800)
Rent averages $582/mo less ($1,282 vs $1,864)
21% cheaper overall cost of living than Renton
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.1)
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 48°F
Cons
Median income trails Renton by $20,999/yr
Higher unemployment (6.1% vs 4.2%)
Renton, WA
Pros
Households earn $20,999 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (4.2%)
More college-educated — 36.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 94°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $576,800
Higher rents — median is $1,864/mo
Cost of living runs 21% higher than Odessa
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Key Differences at a Glance
Odessa
Cost of Living
21% cheaper
COL index 92.1 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Odessa
Violent Crime
7% lower
316.3 vs 339.2 per 100k
Odessa
Median Home Value
$383k less
$193,500 vs $576,800
Odessa
Summer Heat
16.8°F warmer
July avg high 94.0°F vs 77.2°F
Renton
Median Income
$20,999
$92,292 vs $71,293/yr
Renton
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
4.2% vs 6.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Odessa, TX | Renton, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.1 ✓ Cheaper | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $193,500 ✓ Lower | $576,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,282 ✓ Lower | $1,864⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,293 | $92,292 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.0 min ✓ Shorter | 30.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 3.2% | 16.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 ✓ Safer | 117⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 83 ✓ Safer | 89 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 88 ✓ Safer | 158⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | — | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 18.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 18.4% | 36.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.0% | 89.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | UTPB STEM ACADEMY | Renton School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.9°F ✓ Warmer | 48.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.0°F ✓ Warmer | 77.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.3" ✓ Drier | 44.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.9" ✓ Less | 6.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 113,353 ✓ Larger | 105,355 |
| Median Age | 30.7 | 36.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.1% ✓ Higher | 53.6% |
| Under 18 | 29.4% ✓ More | 20.6% |
| Over 65 | 9.9% | 12.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Odessa's cost of living index is 92.1 vs Renton's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Odessa is 21% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Odessa leads 14 of 21 categories. Odessa wins 14 and Renton wins 7. 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 Renton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($193,500 vs $576,800 median home), income ($71,293 vs $92,292), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Odessa, TX and Renton, WA are about 1,500 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.