Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Odessa, TX
VS
Roanoke, VA
🏆 Odessa leads 12 of 21 categories
Odessa
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.1
Median Household Income
$71,293 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
83 ✓ Safer
Population
113,353 ✓ Larger
Roanoke
Virginia
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$51,523
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High
Population
99,213
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Odessa, TX
Pros
49% less violent crime than Roanoke
Households earn $19,770 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (6.1%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.1)
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 47°F
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Roanoke, VA
Pros
Rent averages $365/mo less ($917 vs $1,282)
Homes cost $32k less ($162,000 vs $193,500)
More college-educated — 28.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.9)
Cooler summers — July highs near 88°F vs 94°F
Cons
Median income trails Odessa by $19,770/yr
Violent crime (620.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4055.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Odessa
Median Income
$19,770
$71,293 vs $51,523/yr
Odessa
Violent Crime
49% lower
316.3 vs 620.4 per 100k
Odessa
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
6.1% vs 6.6% unemployment
Odessa
Summer Heat
5.9°F warmer
July avg high 94.0°F vs 88.1°F
Roanoke
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 90.9 vs 92.1 (100 = US avg)
Roanoke
Median Home Value
$32k less
$162,000 vs $193,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Odessa, TX | Roanoke, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.1 | 90.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $193,500 | $162,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,282 | $917 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,293 ✓ Higher | $51,523 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.0 min | 20.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 3.2% | 9.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 ✓ Safer | 175⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 83 ✓ Safer | 163⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 88 ✓ Safer | 193⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | — | B (100) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 12.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 18.4% | 28.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.0% | 89.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | UTPB STEM ACADEMY | Roanoke City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.9°F ✓ Warmer | 47.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.0°F ✓ Warmer | 88.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.3" ✓ Drier | 42.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.9" ✓ Less | 14.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 113,353 ✓ Larger | 99,213 |
| Median Age | 30.7 | 38.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.1% ✓ Higher | 52.1% |
| Under 18 | 29.4% ✓ More | 22.2% |
| Over 65 | 9.9% | 17.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Odessa's cost of living index is 92.1 vs Roanoke's 90.9 (US average = 100).
Roanoke is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Odessa leads 12 of 21 categories. Odessa wins 12 and Roanoke wins 9. 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 Roanoke or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($193,500 vs $162,000 median home), income ($71,293 vs $51,523), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Odessa, TX and Roanoke, VA are about 1,323 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.