What it's like to live in Midland
Midland is a mid-size city in Texas with unemployment below the national average, household incomes running above the national average, commutes that run shorter than most cities, and a population that has grown fast since 2020. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Midland deals with hospital ratings below the national average, larger class sizes than the national average, a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin, and hot summers.
The good
- Low unemployment
- Higher-than-average incomes
- Short commutes
- Fast-growing population
The not so good
- Below-average hospital ratings
- High student-teacher ratio
- High rent burden for renters
- Hot summers
- Car-dependent — few commuters use transit
How Midland compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Midland
Based on Midland's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,868
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $57,360 a year
- 51% of Midland renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$63,840
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $31,920
- Homes cost 3.6× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of livingNear US average
$1,434/mo median rent
Rent is pretty middle of the road, at $1,434 a month median. Not a bargain, not a budget-buster. About typical for a city this size. Home prices are reasonable, with a median around $319,200. Not a steal, but not intimidating either.
Median home value $319,200 · 51% of renters cost-burdened
Job market▼ 28% below US
3.1% unemployment
Unemployment here is 3.1%, a little below the national average of 4.3%.
City-level (BLS)
SafetyNear US average
352 violent crimes per 100k
Crime runs about typical for a city this size. Some neighborhoods are safer than others, and one overall rate doesn't tell the whole story, so a neighborhood-level look matters more than the headline stat.
Property crime 1631/100k · Midland Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 23% below US
20 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 20.1 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 9 in 10 workers drive to work; 6% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are hot and humid, with highs regularly hitting 95°F, and winters are chilly but manageable, with lows around 33°F. It's a dry climate with limited rainfall.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
2 hospitals
There are 2 Medicare-certified hospitals inside city limits. They average 1.0 out of 5 on Medicare's star rating.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforceNear US average
34% bachelor's degree or higher
Education levels run about average, with 34% college-educated. It's a mix of white-collar and blue-collar work, which can be an asset or a limitation depending on the field.
Schools
45 public schools inside the boundary
There are 45 public schools inside the boundary and 11 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 19:1, slightly above the national average of 16:1.
Bottom line
Midland's strongest points are unemployment below the national average and household incomes running above the national average; the main tradeoffs are hospital ratings below the national average and a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin. A year of median rent ($1,434/mo) equals 19% of the median household income here, about the same as the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit job seekers and people who want short commutes. It may be a harder fit for anyone who doesn't drive.
Other places near Midland
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