Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Odessa, TX
VS
Yakima, WA
🏆 Odessa leads 14 of 21 categories
Odessa
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,293 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
83 ✓ Safer
Population
113,353 ✓ Larger
Yakima
Washington
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$55,734
Violent Crime Index
143⚠ High
Population
96,764
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Odessa, TX
Pros
42% less violent crime than Yakima
Households earn $15,559 more per year on average
Homes cost $50k less ($193,500 vs $243,300)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (6.1%)
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 40°F
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Yakima
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Yakima, WA
Pros
Rent averages $268/mo less ($1,014 vs $1,282)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 88°F vs 94°F
Cons
Violent crime (544.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Odessa by $15,559/yr
Higher unemployment (8.1% vs 6.1%)
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Odessa
Key Differences at a Glance
Odessa
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 92.1 vs 101.6 (100 = US avg)
Odessa
Median Income
$15,559
$71,293 vs $55,734/yr
Odessa
Violent Crime
42% lower
316.3 vs 544.3 per 100k
Odessa
Median Home Value
$50k less
$193,500 vs $243,300
Odessa
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
6.1% vs 8.1% unemployment
Odessa
Summer Heat
5.7°F warmer
July avg high 94.0°F vs 88.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Odessa, TX | Yakima, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.1 ✓ Cheaper | 101.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $193,500 ✓ Lower | $243,300 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,282 | $1,014 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,293 ✓ Higher | $55,734 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.0 min | 17.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 3.2% | 5.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 ✓ Safer | 125⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 83 ✓ Safer | 143⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 88 ✓ Safer | 97 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | — | C (79) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 17.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 18.4% | 19.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.0% ✓ Higher | 77.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | UTPB STEM ACADEMY | Yakima School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.9°F ✓ Warmer | 39.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.0°F ✓ Warmer | 88.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.3" | 8.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.9" ✓ Less | 20.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 113,353 ✓ Larger | 96,764 |
| Median Age | 30.7 | 33.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.1% ✓ Higher | 53.1% |
| Under 18 | 29.4% ✓ More | 27.8% |
| Over 65 | 9.9% | 15.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Odessa's cost of living index is 92.1 vs Yakima's 101.6 (US average = 100).
Odessa is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Odessa leads 14 of 21 categories. Odessa wins 14 and Yakima wins 7. 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 Yakima or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($193,500 vs $243,300 median home), income ($71,293 vs $55,734), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Odessa, TX and Yakima, WA are about 1,401 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.