Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Odessa, TX
VS
Santa Rosa, CA
🏆 Santa Rosa leads 13 of 21 categories
Odessa
Texas
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,293
Violent Crime Index
83 ✓ Safer
Population
113,353
Santa Rosa
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
110.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$92,604 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
90
Population
178,221 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Odessa, TX
Pros
Homes cost $468k less ($193,500 vs $661,700)
Rent averages $742/mo less ($1,282 vs $2,024)
8% less violent crime than Santa Rosa
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Rosa
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.1)
Cons
Median income trails Santa Rosa by $21,311/yr
Santa Rosa, CA
Pros
Households earn $21,311 more per year on average
More college-educated — 34.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (5.6%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 94°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $661,700
Higher rents — median is $2,024/mo
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Odessa
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 110.1)
Key Differences at a Glance
Odessa
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 92.1 vs 110.1 (100 = US avg)
Odessa
Violent Crime
8% lower
316.3 vs 342.6 per 100k
Odessa
Median Home Value
$468k less
$193,500 vs $661,700
Odessa
Summer Heat
12.4°F warmer
July avg high 94.0°F vs 81.6°F
Santa Rosa
Median Income
$21,311
$92,604 vs $71,293/yr
Santa Rosa
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
5.6% vs 6.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Odessa, TX | Santa Rosa, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.1 ✓ Cheaper | 110.1⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $193,500 ✓ Lower | $661,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,282 ✓ Lower | $2,024⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,293 | $92,604 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.0 min | 22.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 3.2% | 8.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 | 79 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 83 ✓ Safer | 90 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 88 | 63 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | — | B- (90) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 19.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 18.4% | 34.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.0% | 85.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | UTPB STEM ACADEMY | Rincon Valley Union Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.9°F | 59.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.0°F ✓ Warmer | 81.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.3" ✓ Drier | 31.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.9" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 113,353 | 178,221 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.7 | 40.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.1% ✓ Higher | 55.7% |
| Under 18 | 29.4% ✓ More | 20.5% |
| Over 65 | 9.9% | 18.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Odessa's cost of living index is 92.1 vs Santa Rosa's 110.1 (US average = 100).
Odessa is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Santa Rosa leads 13 of 21 categories. Odessa wins 8 and Santa Rosa wins 13. 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 Rosa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($193,500 vs $661,700 median home), income ($71,293 vs $92,604), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Odessa, TX and Santa Rosa, CA are about 1,233 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.