I think he was a very good songwriter and an excellent singer. However, I would hesitate to put him in Dylan's class. As songwriters go, Dylan has to be a virtuoso, whose work has straddled many different genres. His apothegms are legendary and he has been conceptually adventurous over the years. Ground breaking songs like "It's Alright Ma, I'm Only Bleeding" or "Ballad of a Thin Man" could not have come from anyone else. Before Dylan, there was simply no one in popular music, who attempted the complex and detailed character sketch/psychological profile. Excuse the thread drift!
For all that, I am a huge admirer of Ochs for all the reasons given by Neil D and many more. I loved the wit of "Love Me I'm A Liberal" and the sombre meditation of "The Crucifiction". He did indeed produce some magical songs.