Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Odessa, TX
VS
Riverside, CA
🏆 Riverside leads 11 of 20 categories
Odessa
Texas
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,293
Violent Crime Index
83 ✓ Safer
Population
113,353
Riverside
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$83,448 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
155⚠ High
Population
316,076 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Odessa, TX
Pros
Homes cost $292k less ($193,500 vs $485,500)
46% less violent crime than Riverside
Rent averages $429/mo less ($1,282 vs $1,711)
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Riverside
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.1)
Cons
Median income trails Riverside by $12,155/yr
Riverside, CA
Pros
Households earn $12,155 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 57°F
More college-educated — 24.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $485,500
Higher rents — median is $1,711/mo
Violent crime (589.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Odessa
Key Differences at a Glance
Odessa
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 92.1 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Odessa
Violent Crime
46% lower
316.3 vs 589.7 per 100k
Odessa
Median Home Value
$292k less
$193,500 vs $485,500
Riverside
Median Income
$12,155
$83,448 vs $71,293/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Odessa, TX | Riverside, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.1 ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $193,500 ✓ Lower | $485,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,282 ✓ Lower | $1,711⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,293 | $83,448 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.0 min ✓ Shorter | 31.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 3.2% | 8.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 ✓ Safer | 147⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 83 ✓ Safer | 155⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 88 ✓ Safer | 135⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | — | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 23.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 18.4% | 24.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.0% | 82.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | UTPB STEM ACADEMY | Riverside Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.9°F | 69.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.0°F | 95.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.3" | 10.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.9" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 113,353 | 316,076 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.7 | 32.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.1% ✓ Higher | 55.5% |
| Under 18 | 29.4% ✓ More | 23.6% |
| Over 65 | 9.9% | 11.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Odessa's cost of living index is 92.1 vs Riverside's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Odessa is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Riverside leads 11 of 20 categories. Odessa wins 9 and Riverside wins 11. 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 Riverside or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($193,500 vs $485,500 median home), income ($71,293 vs $83,448), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Odessa, TX and Riverside, CA are about 884 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.