Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Odessa, TX
VS
Scottsdale, AZ
🏆 Scottsdale leads 16 of 21 categories
Odessa
Texas
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,293
Violent Crime Index
83
Population
113,353
Scottsdale
Arizona
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$104,197 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
40 ✓ Safer
Population
240,537 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Odessa, TX
Pros
Homes cost $458k less ($193,500 vs $651,800)
Rent averages $486/mo less ($1,282 vs $1,768)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Scottsdale
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.1)
Cooler summers — July highs near 94°F vs 99°F
Cons
Median income trails Scottsdale by $32,904/yr
Higher unemployment (6.1% vs 3.5%)
Scottsdale, AZ
Pros
52% less violent crime than Odessa
Households earn $32,904 more per year on average
More college-educated — 61.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.6 pts lower (3.5%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (152.5 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 64°F vs 57°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $651,800
Higher rents — median is $1,768/mo
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Odessa
Hot summers — July highs average 99°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Odessa
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 92.1 vs 104.0 (100 = US avg)
Odessa
Median Home Value
$458k less
$193,500 vs $651,800
Scottsdale
Median Income
$32,904
$104,197 vs $71,293/yr
Scottsdale
Violent Crime
52% lower
152.5 vs 316.3 per 100k
Scottsdale
Unemployment
2.6 pp lower
3.5% vs 6.1% unemployment
Scottsdale
Summer Heat
5.4°F warmer
July avg high 99.4°F vs 94.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Odessa, TX | Scottsdale, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.1 ✓ Cheaper | 104.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $193,500 ✓ Lower | $651,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,282 ✓ Lower | $1,768⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,293 | $104,197 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High | 3.5% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.0 min | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 3.2% | 26.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 83 | 40 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 88 ✓ Safer | 89 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | — | A- (116) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 16.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 18.4% | 61.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.0% | 97.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | UTPB STEM ACADEMY | Scottsdale Unified District (4240) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.9°F | 63.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.0°F | 99.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.3" | 11.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.9" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 113,353 | 240,537 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.7 | 48.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.1% | 67.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 29.4% ✓ More | 14.3% |
| Over 65 | 9.9% | 25.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Odessa's cost of living index is 92.1 vs Scottsdale's 104.0 (US average = 100).
Odessa is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Scottsdale leads 16 of 21 categories. Odessa wins 5 and Scottsdale wins 16. 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 Scottsdale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($193,500 vs $651,800 median home), income ($71,293 vs $104,197), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Odessa, TX and Scottsdale, AZ are about 566 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.