Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Odessa, TX
VS
Suffolk, VA
🏆 Odessa leads 13 of 21 categories
Odessa
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,293
Violent Crime Index
83 ✓ Safer
Population
113,353 ✓ Larger
Suffolk
Virginia
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$87,758 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
98
Population
94,856
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Odessa, TX
Pros
Homes cost $121k less ($193,500 vs $314,400)
15% less violent crime than Suffolk
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.1)
Rent averages $94/mo less ($1,282 vs $1,376)
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 49°F
Cons
Median income trails Suffolk by $16,465/yr
Suffolk, VA
Pros
Households earn $16,465 more per year on average
More college-educated — 32.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 94°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $314,400
Longer commutes — 29.6 min average each way
Higher rents — median is $1,376/mo
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Odessa
Key Differences at a Glance
Odessa
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 92.1 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Odessa
Violent Crime
15% lower
316.3 vs 371.0 per 100k
Odessa
Median Home Value
$121k less
$193,500 vs $314,400
Odessa
Summer Heat
7.2°F warmer
July avg high 94.0°F vs 86.8°F
Suffolk
Median Income
$16,465
$87,758 vs $71,293/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Odessa, TX | Suffolk, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.1 ✓ Cheaper | 97.4 |
| Median Home Value | $193,500 ✓ Lower | $314,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,282 ✓ Lower | $1,376⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,293 | $87,758 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.0 min ✓ Shorter | 29.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 3.2% | 7.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 ✓ Safer | 89 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 83 ✓ Safer | 98 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 88 | 75 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | — | B (99) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 14.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 18.4% | 32.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.0% | 91.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | UTPB STEM ACADEMY | Suffolk City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.9°F ✓ Warmer | 49.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.0°F ✓ Warmer | 86.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.3" ✓ Drier | 51.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.9" ✓ Less | 5.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 113,353 ✓ Larger | 94,856 |
| Median Age | 30.7 | 38.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.1% | 70.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 29.4% ✓ More | 23.6% |
| Over 65 | 9.9% | 14.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Odessa's cost of living index is 92.1 vs Suffolk's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Odessa is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Odessa leads 13 of 21 categories. Odessa wins 13 and Suffolk 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 Suffolk or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($193,500 vs $314,400 median home), income ($71,293 vs $87,758), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Odessa, TX and Suffolk, VA are about 1,500 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.