Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Odessa, TX
VS
Rochester, MN
🏆 Rochester leads 14 of 21 categories
Odessa
Texas
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,293
Violent Crime Index
83
Population
113,353
Rochester
Minnesota
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.1
Median Household Income
$83,973 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
41 ✓ Safer
Population
120,848 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Odessa, TX
Pros
Homes cost $75k less ($193,500 vs $268,800)
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 23°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.1)
Cons
Median income trails Rochester by $12,680/yr
Higher unemployment (6.1% vs 3.7%)
Rochester, MN
Pros
51% less violent crime than Odessa
More college-educated — 49.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.4 pts lower (3.7%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (154.0 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $12,680 more per year on average
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Cons
Snowy winters — about 52" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Odessa
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 92.1 vs 93.1 (100 = US avg)
Odessa
Median Home Value
$75k less
$193,500 vs $268,800
Odessa
Summer Heat
13.7°F warmer
July avg high 94.0°F vs 80.3°F
Rochester
Median Income
$12,680
$83,973 vs $71,293/yr
Rochester
Violent Crime
51% lower
154.0 vs 316.3 per 100k
Rochester
Unemployment
2.4 pp lower
3.7% vs 6.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Odessa, TX | Rochester, MN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.1 ✓ Cheaper | 93.1 |
| Median Home Value | $193,500 ✓ Lower | $268,800 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,282 | $1,218 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,293 | $83,973 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High | 3.7% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.0 min | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 3.2% | 10.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 | 50 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 83 | 41 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 88 | 65 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | — | A- (116) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 18.4% | 49.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.0% | 94.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | UTPB STEM ACADEMY | Rochester Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.9°F ✓ Warmer | 22.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.0°F ✓ Warmer | 80.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.3" ✓ Drier | 37.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.9" ✓ Less | 52.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 113,353 | 120,848 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.7 | 36.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.1% | 65.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 29.4% ✓ More | 23.6% |
| Over 65 | 9.9% | 15.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Odessa's cost of living index is 92.1 vs Rochester's 93.1 (US average = 100).
Odessa is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Rochester leads 14 of 21 categories. Odessa wins 7 and Rochester wins 14. 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 Rochester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($193,500 vs $268,800 median home), income ($71,293 vs $83,973), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Odessa, TX and Rochester, MN are about 994 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.