Houston, TX vs Odessa, TX
Side-by-side comparison of housing, income, commute, safety, and quality of life.
Score Snapshot
No universal winner
Scores summarize the published model. Use the objective metric differences below and your own priorities to choose.
Houston
72.1
#926 nationally
Odessa
77.5
#243 nationally
Odessa leads in average commute (23 min vs 28.5 min). Odessa leads in median household income ($71,293 vs $57,791). Houston leads in walk score (48 vs 42).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Houston, TX | Odessa, TX |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 72.1 (#926) | 77.5 (#243) |
| Population | 2,314,157 | 115,743 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $263,563 | $253,740 |
| Median Household Income | $57,791 | $71,293 |
| Average Commute | 28.5 min | 23 min |
| Walk Score | 48 | 42 |
| Crime Level | Moderate-High | 8.7 |
| School Rating | 5.5 | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 96 | 98 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+5.5 | R+52.9 |
C-
72.1 Score
Houston, TX
Space City with global energy
Median Home
$263,563
Population
2,314,157
Crime
Moderate-High
Schools
C
Southwest
View Houston, TX →
C+
77.5 Score
Odessa, TX
Mid-size Texas city with community character
Median Home
$253,740
Population
115,743
Crime
Moderate
Walk Score
42
Southwest
View Odessa, TX →