Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Odessa, TX
VS
San Francisco, CA
🏆 Odessa leads 11 of 21 categories
Odessa
Texas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,293
Violent Crime Index
83 ✓ Safer
Population
113,353
San Francisco
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
117.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$136,689 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
157⚠ High
Population
851,036 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Odessa, TX
Pros
Homes cost $1155k less ($193,500 vs $1,348,700)
Rent averages $1034/mo less ($1,282 vs $2,316)
47% less violent crime than San Francisco
25% cheaper overall cost of living than San Francisco
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.1)
Cons
Median income trails San Francisco by $65,396/yr
San Francisco, CA
Pros
Households earn $65,396 more per year on average
More college-educated — 59.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 62°F vs 94°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (5.4%)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,348,700
Higher rents — median is $2,316/mo
Cost of living runs 25% higher than Odessa
Violent crime (596.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Odessa
Cost of Living
25% cheaper
COL index 92.1 vs 117.1 (100 = US avg)
Odessa
Violent Crime
47% lower
316.3 vs 596.5 per 100k
Odessa
Median Home Value
$1155k less
$193,500 vs $1,348,700
Odessa
Summer Heat
32.2°F warmer
July avg high 94.0°F vs 61.8°F
San Francisco
Median Income
$65,396
$136,689 vs $71,293/yr
San Francisco
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
5.4% vs 6.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Odessa, TX | San Francisco, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.1 ✓ Cheaper | 117.1⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $193,500 ✓ Lower | $1,348,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,282 ✓ Lower | $2,316⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,293 | $136,689 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.0 min ✓ Shorter | 31.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 3.2% | 23.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 ✓ Safer | 169⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 83 ✓ Safer | 157⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 88 ✓ Safer | 187⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | — | B+ (108) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 21.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 18.4% | 59.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.0% | 88.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | UTPB STEM ACADEMY | San Francisco Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.9°F | 59.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.0°F ✓ Warmer | 61.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.3" ✓ Drier | 30.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.9" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 113,353 | 851,036 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.7 | 39.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.1% ✓ Higher | 38.6% |
| Under 18 | 29.4% ✓ More | 13.6% |
| Over 65 | 9.9% | 16.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Odessa's cost of living index is 92.1 vs San Francisco's 117.1 (US average = 100).
Odessa is 25% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Odessa leads 11 of 21 categories. Odessa wins 11 and San Francisco 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 San Francisco or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($193,500 vs $1,348,700 median home), income ($71,293 vs $136,689), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Odessa, TX and San Francisco, CA are about 1,238 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.