Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Odessa, TX
VS
Santa Clarita, CA
🏆 Santa Clarita leads 15 of 21 categories
Odessa
Texas
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,293
Violent Crime Index
83
Population
113,353
Santa Clarita
California
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$116,186 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
44 ✓ Safer
Population
225,850 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Odessa, TX
Pros
Homes cost $476k less ($193,500 vs $669,200)
Rent averages $1033/mo less ($1,282 vs $2,315)
23% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Clarita
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.1)
Cons
Median income trails Santa Clarita by $44,893/yr
Santa Clarita, CA
Pros
Households earn $44,893 more per year on average
48% less violent crime than Odessa
Violent crime is well below the national average (165.4 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 38.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (5.5%)
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 57°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $669,200
Higher rents — median is $2,315/mo
Cost of living runs 23% higher than Odessa
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Odessa
Cost of Living
23% cheaper
COL index 92.1 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Odessa
Median Home Value
$476k less
$193,500 vs $669,200
Santa Clarita
Median Income
$44,893
$116,186 vs $71,293/yr
Santa Clarita
Violent Crime
48% lower
165.4 vs 316.3 per 100k
Santa Clarita
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
5.5% vs 6.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Odessa, TX | Santa Clarita, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.1 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $193,500 ✓ Lower | $669,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,282 ✓ Lower | $2,315⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,293 | $116,186 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.0 min ✓ Shorter | 35.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 3.2% | 13.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 | 49 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 83 | 44 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 88 | 56 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | — | C+ (84) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 26.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 18.4% | 38.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.0% | 91.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | UTPB STEM ACADEMY | Saugus Union |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.9°F | 63.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.0°F | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.3" ✓ Drier | 15.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.9" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 113,353 | 225,850 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.7 | 37.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.1% | 71.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 29.4% ✓ More | 25.4% |
| Over 65 | 9.9% | 12.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Odessa's cost of living index is 92.1 vs Santa Clarita's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Odessa is 23% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Santa Clarita leads 15 of 21 categories. Odessa wins 6 and Santa Clarita wins 15. 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 Santa Clarita or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($193,500 vs $669,200 median home), income ($71,293 vs $116,186), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Odessa, TX and Santa Clarita, CA are about 949 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.