Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Odessa, TX
VS
Wilmington, NC
🏆 It's a dead heat — 10 categories each
Odessa
Texas
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,293 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
83 ✓ Safer
Population
113,353
Wilmington
North Carolina
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.1
Median Household Income
$58,908
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High
Population
116,933 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Odessa, TX
Pros
Homes cost $125k less ($193,500 vs $318,600)
34% less violent crime than Wilmington
Households earn $12,385 more per year on average
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.1)
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Wilmington
Cons
Higher unemployment (6.1% vs 4.9%)
Wilmington, NC
Pros
More college-educated — 43.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (4.9%)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $318,600
Violent crime (482.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Odessa by $12,385/yr
Property crime (3514.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Odessa
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 92.1 vs 97.1 (100 = US avg)
Odessa
Median Income
$12,385
$71,293 vs $58,908/yr
Odessa
Violent Crime
34% lower
316.3 vs 482.8 per 100k
Odessa
Median Home Value
$125k less
$193,500 vs $318,600
Odessa
Summer Heat
4.0°F warmer
July avg high 94.0°F vs 90.0°F
Wilmington
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
4.9% vs 6.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Odessa, TX | Wilmington, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.1 ✓ Cheaper | 97.1 |
| Median Home Value | $193,500 ✓ Lower | $318,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,282 | $1,213 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,293 ✓ Higher | $58,908 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High | 4.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.0 min | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 3.2% | 14.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 ✓ Safer | 143⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 83 ✓ Safer | 127⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 88 ✓ Safer | 167⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | — | B+ (109) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 15.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 18.4% | 43.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.0% | 93.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | UTPB STEM ACADEMY | New Hanover County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.9°F | 57.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.0°F ✓ Warmer | 90.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.3" ✓ Drier | 60.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.9" | 0.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 113,353 | 116,933 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.7 | 37.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.1% ✓ Higher | 45.9% |
| Under 18 | 29.4% ✓ More | 16.8% |
| Over 65 | 9.9% | 17.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Odessa's cost of living index is 92.1 vs Wilmington's 97.1 (US average = 100).
Odessa is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 10 categories each. Odessa wins 10 and Wilmington wins 10. 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 Wilmington or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($193,500 vs $318,600 median home), income ($71,293 vs $58,908), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Odessa, TX and Wilmington, NC are about 1,422 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.