Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Odessa, TX
VS
St. Paul, MN
🏆 Odessa leads 13 of 21 categories
Odessa
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,293 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
83 ✓ Safer
Population
113,353
St. Paul
Minnesota
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$69,919
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High
Population
308,806 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Odessa, TX
Pros
49% less violent crime than St. Paul
Homes cost $71k less ($193,500 vs $264,900)
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 24°F
12% cheaper overall cost of living than St. Paul
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.1)
Cons
Higher unemployment (6.1% vs 5.0%)
St. Paul, MN
Pros
More college-educated — 42.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (5.0%)
Rent averages $108/mo less ($1,174 vs $1,282)
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 94°F
Cons
Violent crime (617.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Odessa
Property crime (2834.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 40" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Odessa
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 92.1 vs 104.5 (100 = US avg)
Odessa
Median Income
$1,374
$71,293 vs $69,919/yr
Odessa
Violent Crime
49% lower
316.3 vs 617.7 per 100k
Odessa
Median Home Value
$71k less
$193,500 vs $264,900
Odessa
Summer Heat
11.4°F warmer
July avg high 94.0°F vs 82.6°F
St. Paul
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
5.0% vs 6.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Odessa, TX | St. Paul, MN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.1 ✓ Cheaper | 104.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $193,500 ✓ Lower | $264,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,282 | $1,174 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,293 ✓ Higher | $69,919 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.0 min ✓ Shorter | 23.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 3.2% | 15.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 ✓ Safer | 152⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 83 ✓ Safer | 163⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 88 ✓ Safer | 135⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | — | B+ (104) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 14.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 18.4% | 42.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.0% | 88.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | UTPB STEM ACADEMY | Saint Paul Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.9°F ✓ Warmer | 23.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.0°F ✓ Warmer | 82.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.3" ✓ Drier | 29.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.9" ✓ Less | 40.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 113,353 | 308,806 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.7 | 33.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.1% ✓ Higher | 53.0% |
| Under 18 | 29.4% ✓ More | 24.0% |
| Over 65 | 9.9% | 11.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Odessa's cost of living index is 92.1 vs St. Paul's 104.5 (US average = 100).
Odessa is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Odessa leads 13 of 21 categories. Odessa wins 13 and St. Paul wins 8. 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 St. Paul or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($193,500 vs $264,900 median home), income ($71,293 vs $69,919), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Odessa, TX and St. Paul, MN are about 1,031 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.