Odessa vs Tucson
The short version
- Odessa is cheaper overall: prices in its metro run 3% lower than in the Tucson area (BEA 2024).
- The median home costs $223,100 in Odessa and $266,200 in Tucson.
- Households earn more in Odessa ($73,472 vs $57,073 median).
- Tucson has the warmer winter: January highs of 67°F vs 59°F.
- Tucson has more scorching days: 158 a year at 90°F or hotter vs 115.
- Odessa is growing faster: +7.2% since 2020 vs +1.1%.
- Texas has no state income tax on wages; Arizona's top rate is 2.5%.
Side by side
| Odessa, TX | Tucson, AZ | |
|---|---|---|
| People | ||
| Population (2025) | 122,707 | 548,371 |
| Growth since 2020 | +7.2% | +1.1% |
| People per square mile | 2,358 | 2,264 |
| Median age | 31.1 | 34.6 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 19% | 31% |
| Money and housing | ||
| Median household income | $73,472 | $57,073 |
| Median home value | $223,100 | $266,200 |
| Home value to income | 3.0× | 4.7× |
| Median rent (with utilities) | $1,315 | $1,145 |
| Metro price level (US = 100) | 93.9 | 96.9 |
| Housing price level (US = 100) | 89.7 | 91.8 |
| $75,000 elsewhere equals | $70,400 | $72,700 |
| Homeowners | 60% | 52% |
| Top state income tax | None | 2.5% |
| Combined sales tax | 8.2% | 8.54% |
| Work and commute | ||
| Average commute (minutes) | 22.4 | 21.9 |
| Work from home | 3% | 14% |
| Take public transit | 0% | 2% |
| Unemployment (2020-24 avg) | 5.9% | 6.2% |
| Poverty rate | 16.2% | 18.9% |
| Weather | ||
| January high / low | 59° / 33° | 67° / 41° |
| July high / low | 96° / 73° | 100° / 76° |
| Precipitation per year | 14 in | 11 in |
| Snowfall per year | 4 in | 0 in |
| Days 90°F or hotter | 115 | 158 |
| Nights below freezing | 58 | 12 |
| Comfortable months | 3 | 4 |
| Risks, air and home prices | ||
| Natural hazard risk (FEMA, county) | Relatively Moderate | Relatively High |
| FEMA risk score (lower is safer) | 82.8 | 99.1 |
| Good air days, 2025 | 72% | 34% |
| Home prices, past year | +0.1% | +1.9% |
| Home prices, past 5 years | +24.8% | +39.5% |
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: Odessa: March to April and October. Tucson: February to April and November.
Full monthly tables: Odessa weather by month and Tucson weather by month.
What $75,000 is worth
A $75,000 salary in an average-priced US city buys about the same as $70,400 in Odessa and $72,700 in Tucson. Moving from Odessa to Tucson, you would need about $77,400 to match a $75,000 salary.
Which would you pick?
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