Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Odessa, TX
VS
Sugar Land, TX
🏆 Sugar Land leads 14 of 21 categories
Odessa
Texas
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,293
Violent Crime Index
83
Population
113,353 ✓ Larger
Sugar Land
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$132,247 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
21 ✓ Safer
Population
110,077
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Odessa, TX
Pros
Homes cost $194k less ($193,500 vs $387,900)
Rent averages $586/mo less ($1,282 vs $1,868)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Sugar Land
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.1)
Cons
Median income trails Sugar Land by $60,954/yr
Higher unemployment (6.1% vs 5.0%)
Sugar Land, TX
Pros
Households earn $60,954 more per year on average
75% less violent crime than Odessa
More college-educated — 61.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (78.0 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (5.0%)
Milder winters — January highs near 64°F vs 57°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $387,900
Higher rents — median is $1,868/mo
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Odessa
Longer commutes — 30.0 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Odessa
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 92.1 vs 100.2 (100 = US avg)
Odessa
Median Home Value
$194k less
$193,500 vs $387,900
Sugar Land
Median Income
$60,954
$132,247 vs $71,293/yr
Sugar Land
Violent Crime
75% lower
78.0 vs 316.3 per 100k
Sugar Land
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
5.0% vs 6.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Odessa, TX | Sugar Land, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.1 ✓ Cheaper | 100.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $193,500 ✓ Lower | $387,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,282 ✓ Lower | $1,868⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,293 | $132,247 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.0 min ✓ Shorter | 30.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 3.2% | 16.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 83 | 21 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 88 | 66 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | — | A (125) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 16.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 18.4% | 61.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.0% | 94.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | UTPB STEM ACADEMY | FORT BEND ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.9°F | 64.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.0°F | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.3" ✓ Drier | 54.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.9" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 113,353 ✓ Larger | 110,077 |
| Median Age | 30.7 | 42.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.1% | 81.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 29.4% ✓ More | 22.6% |
| Over 65 | 9.9% | 18.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Odessa's cost of living index is 92.1 vs Sugar Land's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Odessa is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Sugar Land leads 14 of 21 categories. Odessa wins 7 and Sugar Land wins 14. 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 Sugar Land or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($193,500 vs $387,900 median home), income ($71,293 vs $132,247), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Odessa, TX and Sugar Land, TX are about 429 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.