Columbia vs Odessa
The short version
- Overall prices are about the same in both metro areas (BEA 2024).
- The median home costs $223,100 in Odessa and $264,300 in Columbia.
- Households earn more in Odessa ($73,472 vs $55,529 median).
- Odessa has more scorching days: 115 a year at 90°F or hotter vs 81.
- Commutes are shorter in Columbia (18 vs 22 minutes each way).
- Texas has no state income tax on wages; South Carolina's top rate is 6%.
Side by side
| Columbia, SC | Odessa, TX | |
|---|---|---|
| People | ||
| Population (2025) | 147,035 | 122,707 |
| Growth since 2020 | +7.5% | +7.2% |
| People per square mile | 1,062 | 2,358 |
| Median age | 28.6 | 31.1 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 46% | 19% |
| Money and housing | ||
| Median household income | $55,529 | $73,472 |
| Median home value | $264,300 | $223,100 |
| Home value to income | 4.8× | 3.0× |
| Median rent (with utilities) | $1,204 | $1,315 |
| Metro price level (US = 100) | 93.7 | 93.9 |
| Housing price level (US = 100) | 79.5 | 89.7 |
| $75,000 elsewhere equals | $70,200 | $70,400 |
| Homeowners | 46% | 60% |
| Top state income tax | 6% | None |
| Combined sales tax | 7.49% | 8.2% |
| Work and commute | ||
| Average commute (minutes) | 17.7 | 22.4 |
| Work from home | 12% | 3% |
| Take public transit | 1% | 0% |
| Unemployment (2020-24 avg) | 7.5% | 5.9% |
| Poverty rate | 24% | 16.2% |
| Weather | ||
| January high / low | 57° / 35° | 59° / 33° |
| July high / low | 93° / 72° | 96° / 73° |
| Precipitation per year | 45 in | 14 in |
| Snowfall per year | 1 in | 4 in |
| Days 90°F or hotter | 81 | 115 |
| Nights below freezing | 46 | 58 |
| Comfortable months | 5 | 3 |
| Risks, air and home prices | ||
| Natural hazard risk (FEMA, county) | Relatively Moderate | Relatively Moderate |
| FEMA risk score (lower is safer) | 93.1 | 82.8 |
| Good air days, 2025 | 58% | 72% |
| Home prices, past year | +3.6% | +0.1% |
| Home prices, past 5 years | +51.6% | +24.8% |
Highlighted cells are the better value where "better" is clear (lower prices, higher income, shorter commutes). Sources: Census Bureau 2025 estimates and ACS 2020-2024, BEA 2024, NOAA 1991-2020, Tax Foundation 2026.
Weather, month by month
Most comfortable months: Columbia: March to May and September to October. Odessa: March to April and October.
Full monthly tables: Columbia weather by month and Odessa weather by month.
What $75,000 is worth
A $75,000 salary in an average-priced US city buys about the same as $70,200 in Columbia and $70,400 in Odessa. Moving from Columbia to Odessa, you would need about $75,200 to match a $75,000 salary.
Which would you pick?
One vote per person. Results show after you vote.