Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Odessa, TX
VS
Wichita Falls, TX
🏆 Wichita Falls leads 11 of 21 categories
Odessa
Texas
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.1
Median Household Income
$71,293 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
83 ✓ Safer
Population
113,353 ✓ Larger
Wichita Falls
Texas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
88.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$55,584
Violent Crime Index
92
Population
102,482
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Odessa, TX
Pros
10% less violent crime than Wichita Falls
Households earn $15,709 more per year on average
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.1)
Cons
Higher unemployment (6.1% vs 4.4%)
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Wichita Falls
Wichita Falls, TX
Pros
Homes cost $65k less ($128,800 vs $193,500)
Rent averages $333/mo less ($949 vs $1,282)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (4.4%)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 88.9)
More college-educated — 24.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Odessa by $15,709/yr
Property crime (2618.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Odessa
Median Income
$15,709
$71,293 vs $55,584/yr
Odessa
Violent Crime
10% lower
316.3 vs 350.3 per 100k
Wichita Falls
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 88.9 vs 92.1 (100 = US avg)
Wichita Falls
Median Home Value
$65k less
$128,800 vs $193,500
Wichita Falls
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
4.4% vs 6.1% unemployment
Wichita Falls
Summer Heat
3.2°F warmer
July avg high 97.2°F vs 94.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Odessa, TX | Wichita Falls, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.1 | 88.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $193,500 | $128,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,282 | $949 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,293 ✓ Higher | $55,584 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.0 min | 14.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 3.2% | 6.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 ✓ Safer | 105⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 83 ✓ Safer | 92 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 88 ✓ Safer | 125⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | — | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 15.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 18.4% | 24.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.0% | 86.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | UTPB STEM ACADEMY | WICHITA FALLS ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.9°F ✓ Warmer | 54.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.0°F | 97.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.3" ✓ Drier | 27.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.9" ✓ Less | 3.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 113,353 ✓ Larger | 102,482 |
| Median Age | 30.7 | 32.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.1% ✓ Higher | 56.3% |
| Under 18 | 29.4% ✓ More | 22.8% |
| Over 65 | 9.9% | 14.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Odessa's cost of living index is 92.1 vs Wichita Falls's 88.9 (US average = 100).
Wichita Falls is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Wichita Falls leads 11 of 21 categories. Odessa wins 10 and Wichita Falls wins 11. 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 Wichita Falls or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($193,500 vs $128,800 median home), income ($71,293 vs $55,584), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Odessa, TX and Wichita Falls, TX are about 262 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.