Odessa TX vs Tacoma WA — Cost of Living, Crime & Income Comparison 2026

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

Odessa, TX

Texas · Population: 114,080

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

Tacoma, WA

Washington · Population: 220,482

  • Median HH Income$83,857
  • Median Home Price$496,966
  • Unemployment5.3%
  • Bachelor's+33.5%

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population
Odessa
114,080
Tacoma
220,482
Tacoma +
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Odessa
N/A
Tacoma
N/A
Median Age
Odessa
31.0
Odessa +
Tacoma
37.3
Foreign Born
Odessa
14.5%
Odessa +
Tacoma
12.2%
White
Odessa
51.9%
Tacoma
59.4%
Tacoma +
Black
Odessa
6.8%
Tacoma
10.5%
Tacoma +
Asian
Odessa
1.9%
Tacoma
8.8%
Tacoma +
Hispanic
Odessa
61.2%
Odessa +
Tacoma
13.1%
Spanish at Home
Odessa
N/A
Tacoma
N/A

Economy

Median HH Income
Odessa
$73,030
Tacoma
$83,857
Tacoma +
Per Capita Income
Odessa
$35,655
Tacoma
$44,756
Tacoma +
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Odessa
$63,758
Tacoma
$76,120
Tacoma +
Unemployment Rate
Odessa
5.5%
Tacoma
5.3%
Tacoma +
Poverty Rate
Odessa
14.4%
Tacoma
12.0%
Tacoma +
Bachelor's Degree+
Odessa
18.3%
Tacoma
33.5%
Tacoma +

Housing

Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Odessa
$253,423
Odessa +
Tacoma
$496,966
Homeownership Rate
Odessa
59.2%
Odessa +
Tacoma
56.5%

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Odessa
442
Tacoma
383
Tacoma +
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Odessa
2339
Odessa +
Tacoma
3409

Health

Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Odessa
39.4%
Tacoma
37.3%
Tacoma +
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Odessa
12.9%
Tacoma
10.9%
Tacoma +
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Odessa
18.0%
Odessa +
Tacoma
18.7%
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Odessa
25.4%
Tacoma
9.3%
Tacoma +
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Odessa
18.1%
Tacoma
16.8%
Tacoma +
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Odessa
14.0%
Tacoma
11.9%
Tacoma +

Climate

Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Odessa
65.6°F
Tacoma
53.5°F
Tacoma +
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Odessa
13.5 in
Odessa +
Tacoma
39.2 in

Air Quality

PM2.5 Annual Avg
EPA AQS (state-level est.)
Odessa
9.2 µg/m³
Tacoma
7.5 µg/m³
Tacoma +
Good Air Days
AQI ≤ 50
Odessa
55.0%
Tacoma
75.0%
Tacoma +

Commute

Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Odessa
23.7 min
Odessa +
Tacoma
31.1 min

Which City is Right for You?

Tacoma leads in median household income at $83,857, while odessa offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $253,423. On public safety, Tacoma is safer with a violent crime rate of 383 per 100,000 residents, compared to 442 in Odessa. Tacoma has a lower unemployment rate at 5.3%, and Tacoma has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 7.5 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Tacoma scores better with a lower obesity rate of 37.3%.

Compare More Cities

About Odessa & Tacoma