Bend OR vs Odessa TX — Cost of Living, Crime & Income Comparison 2026

Updated May 2026 · Source: US Census ACS 5-Year (2023), FBI CDE (2023), BLS OEWS (2024)

Bend, OR

Oregon · Population: 97,502

  • Median HH Income$94,279
  • Median Home Price$735,193
  • Unemployment4.2%
  • Bachelor's+49.3%

Odessa, TX

Texas · Population: 114,080

  • Median HH Income$73,030
  • Median Home Price$253,423
  • Unemployment5.5%
  • Bachelor's+18.3%

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population
Bend
97,502
Odessa
114,080
Odessa +
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Bend
N/A
Odessa
N/A
Median Age
Bend
37.6
Odessa
31.0
Odessa +
Foreign Born
Bend
17.6%
Bend +
Odessa
14.5%
White
Bend
65.5%
Bend +
Odessa
51.9%
Black
Bend
2.8%
Odessa
6.8%
Odessa +
Asian
Bend
11.4%
Bend +
Odessa
1.9%
Hispanic
Bend
17.3%
Odessa
61.2%
Odessa +
Spanish at Home
Bend
N/A
Odessa
N/A

Economy

Median HH Income
Bend
$94,279
Bend +
Odessa
$73,030
Per Capita Income
Bend
$51,659
Bend +
Odessa
$35,655
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Bend
$63,691
Odessa
$63,758
Odessa +
Unemployment Rate
Bend
4.2%
Bend +
Odessa
5.5%
Poverty Rate
Bend
9.9%
Bend +
Odessa
14.4%
Bachelor's Degree+
Bend
49.3%
Bend +
Odessa
18.3%

Housing

Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Bend
$735,193
Odessa
$253,423
Odessa +
Homeownership Rate
Bend
49.8%
Odessa
59.2%
Odessa +

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Bend
355
Bend +
Odessa
442
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Bend
3001
Odessa
2339
Odessa +

Health

Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Bend
26.5%
Bend +
Odessa
39.4%
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Bend
8.9%
Bend +
Odessa
12.9%
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Bend
16.0%
Bend +
Odessa
18.0%
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Bend
6.5%
Bend +
Odessa
25.4%
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Bend
17.7%
Bend +
Odessa
18.1%
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Bend
10.0%
Bend +
Odessa
14.0%

Climate

Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Bend
46.6°F
Bend +
Odessa
65.6°F
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Bend
11.4 in
Bend +
Odessa
13.5 in

Air Quality

PM2.5 Annual Avg
EPA AQS (state-level est.)
Bend
9.0 µg/m³
Bend +
Odessa
9.2 µg/m³
Good Air Days
AQI ≤ 50
Bend
55.0%
Odessa
55.0%
Tie

Commute

Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Bend
26.1 min
Odessa
23.7 min
Odessa +

Which City is Right for You?

Bend leads in median household income at $94,279, while odessa offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $253,423. On public safety, Bend is safer with a violent crime rate of 355 per 100,000 residents, compared to 442 in Odessa. Bend has a lower unemployment rate at 4.2%, and Bend has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 9.0 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Bend scores better with a lower obesity rate of 26.5%.

Compare More Cities

About Bend & Odessa