Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Odessa, TX
VS
Sandy, UT
🏆 Sandy leads 11 of 21 categories
Odessa
Texas
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,293
Violent Crime Index
83
Population
113,353 ✓ Larger
Sandy
Utah
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$108,165 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
65 ✓ Safer
Population
95,635
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Odessa, TX
Pros
Homes cost $299k less ($193,500 vs $492,300)
Rent averages $358/mo less ($1,282 vs $1,640)
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 38°F
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Sandy
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.1)
Cons
Median income trails Sandy by $36,872/yr
Higher unemployment (6.1% vs 2.2%)
Sandy, UT
Pros
Households earn $36,872 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.9 pts lower (2.2%)
22% less violent crime than Odessa
More college-educated — 44.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (246.7 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $492,300
Higher rents — median is $1,640/mo
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Odessa
Snowy winters — about 82" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Odessa
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 92.1 vs 100.2 (100 = US avg)
Odessa
Median Home Value
$299k less
$193,500 vs $492,300
Odessa
Summer Heat
3.3°F warmer
July avg high 94.0°F vs 90.7°F
Sandy
Median Income
$36,872
$108,165 vs $71,293/yr
Sandy
Violent Crime
22% lower
246.7 vs 316.3 per 100k
Sandy
Unemployment
3.9 pp lower
2.2% vs 6.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Odessa, TX | Sandy, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.1 ✓ Cheaper | 100.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $193,500 ✓ Lower | $492,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,282 ✓ Lower | $1,640⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,293 | $108,165 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High | 2.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.0 min ✓ Shorter | 23.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 3.2% | 17.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 | 69 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 83 | 65 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 88 | 76 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | — | B (102) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 21.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 18.4% | 44.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.0% | 95.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | UTPB STEM ACADEMY | Canyons District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.9°F ✓ Warmer | 38.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.0°F ✓ Warmer | 90.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.3" ✓ Drier | 21.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.9" ✓ Less | 81.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 113,353 ✓ Larger | 95,635 |
| Median Age | 30.7 | 36.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.1% | 76.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 29.4% ✓ More | 25.8% |
| Over 65 | 9.9% | 14.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Odessa's cost of living index is 92.1 vs Sandy's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Odessa is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Sandy leads 11 of 21 categories. Odessa wins 10 and Sandy 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 Sandy or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($193,500 vs $492,300 median home), income ($71,293 vs $108,165), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Odessa, TX and Sandy, UT are about 800 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.