Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Odessa, TX
VS
Wichita, KS
🏆 Wichita 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
Wichita
Kansas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,712
Violent Crime Index
142⚠ High
Population
395,951 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Odessa, TX
Pros
41% less violent crime than Wichita
Households earn $10,581 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 44°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.1)
Cons
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Wichita
Wichita, KS
Pros
Rent averages $367/mo less ($915 vs $1,282)
Homes cost $27k less ($166,400 vs $193,500)
More college-educated — 31.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.5)
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Odessa
Cons
Violent crime (538.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Odessa by $10,581/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Odessa
Median Income
$10,581
$71,293 vs $60,712/yr
Odessa
Violent Crime
41% lower
316.3 vs 538.6 per 100k
Wichita
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 89.5 vs 92.1 (100 = US avg)
Wichita
Median Home Value
$27k less
$166,400 vs $193,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Odessa, TX | Wichita, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.1 | 89.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $193,500 | $166,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,282 | $915 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,293 ✓ Higher | $60,712 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.0 min | 18.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 3.2% | 6.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 ✓ Safer | 129⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 83 ✓ Safer | 142⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 88 ✓ Safer | 110⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | — | B (98) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 14.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 18.4% | 31.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.0% | 88.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | UTPB STEM ACADEMY | Wichita |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.9°F ✓ Warmer | 43.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.0°F ✓ Warmer | 92.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.3" ✓ Drier | 35.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.9" ✓ Less | 12.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 113,353 | 395,951 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.7 | 35.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.1% ✓ Higher | 58.5% |
| Under 18 | 29.4% ✓ More | 24.6% |
| Over 65 | 9.9% | 15.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Odessa's cost of living index is 92.1 vs Wichita's 89.5 (US average = 100).
Wichita is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Wichita leads 11 of 21 categories. Odessa wins 10 and Wichita 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 or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($193,500 vs $166,400 median home), income ($71,293 vs $60,712), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Odessa, TX and Wichita, KS are about 491 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.