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Living in
Odessa.
About
Life in Odessa
Living in Odessa means embracing a city built on energy—both the kind pumped from the ground and the kind that keeps the community moving forward. The job market is dominated by the oil and gas industry, though city leaders have been actively working to diversify the economy toward wind energy, healthcare, education, and government work to reduce the boom-bust cycles that have historically defined the region. With a median household income around $73,000 and median home values near $223,000, your money stretches further here than in most Texas metros, though rental availability can be tight with a 21% rental vacancy rate.
Odessa at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
31.1 yrs
Poverty Rate
16.2%
Foreign-Born
15.6%
Broadband Internet
88.7%
of households
Population Growth
+7.2%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics15.6% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Odessa: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Odessa, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (63.7%), and 41.2% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
29.4%
of residents
65 and Older
10.1%
of residents
Households with Kids
39.5%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
29.2%
of households
Married Couples
43.3%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.43
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 6% below TX average
Rent, home values, and income in Odessa
In Odessa, rent runs 6% below the TX average, and home values are 21% below the TX average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
51.3%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
23.6%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
93.9
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$3,093
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
59.8%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1980
median year built
Vacant Homes
6.4%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $250,381 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.6 pts below TX average
Unemployment in Odessa
Unemployment in Odessa is 0.6 percentage points lower than the TX average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Odessa Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute22.4 min avg
How Odessa residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Odessa, most residents drive alone to work (84%), and 76% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 12 mi
Midland International Air and Space Port (MAF)
Small hub761k passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 13% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Odessa runs 13% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
285.9
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,158.6
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Odessa Police Department
Natural DisastersHail most common — 26 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
82.8 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Ector County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Ector County, which includes Odessa, the most common type is hail, with 26 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 26 | Thunderstorm Wind | $591,000 |
| 2024 | 12 | Hail | $467,000 |
| 2023 | 17 | Hail | $30,000 |
| 2022 | 10 | Thunderstorm Wind | $262,500 |
| 2021 | 22 | Hail | $425,700 |
| 2020 | 8 | Hail | None reported |
| 2019 | 11 | Hail | $200,000 |
| 2018 | 9 | Flash Flood | $116,300 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
189 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Ector County, county-wide
Air Quality39 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Ector County, which includes Odessa, is typically good — 259 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
39
Good Days
259
per year
Moderate Days
97
per year
Unhealthy Days
2
per year
Ector County, county-wide
Climate94°F summers, 34°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Odessa has hot summers (avg high 94°F) and mild winters (avg low 34°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
79°/52°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
94°/70°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
76°/52°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
59°/34°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
12.3"
Annual Snowfall
0.9"
Hot Days/Year
106
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
44
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
43
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 57°F | 32°F | 0.68" |
| Feb | 62°F | 36°F | 0.54" |
| Mar | 71°F | 44°F | 0.67" |
| Apr | 79°F | 51°F | 0.70" |
| May | 87°F | 61°F | 1.62" |
| Jun | 94°F | 68°F | 1.00" |
| Jul | 94°F | 71°F | 1.47" |
| Aug | 93°F | 70°F | 1.61" |
| Sep | 85°F | 62°F | 1.53" |
| Oct | 77°F | 53°F | 1.27" |
| Nov | 66°F | 41°F | 0.61" |
| Dec | 58°F | 33°F | 0.58" |
Healthcare2 hospitals, avg 3.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Odessa
Odessa has 2 hospitals, averaging 3.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating.
Hospitals
2
within city limits
Uninsured
18.3%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
3.0 / 5
Medical Center Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Odessa Regional Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Oceans Behavioral Hospital of Permian Basin
Psychiatric · 7.8 mi away · Midland
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education18.9:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Odessa
Odessa's student/teacher ratio is 18.9:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 19.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
46
within city limits
Private Schools
5
within city limits
College Degree Rate
19.0%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
18.9:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Odessa
Public · 2-year · 4,654 students · in-state tuition $2,688 · 23% graduate · median earnings $47,174 (10 yrs after entry)
The University of Texas Permian Basin
Public · 4-year · 3,911 students · in-state tuition $9,236 · 48% graduate · median earnings $61,557 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreation
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Odessa
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Public Libraries in Odessa
Ector County Library
321 W 5th St, Odessa
Cities Near Odessa
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Odessa?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Odessa FAQ
Is Odessa, Texas affordable?⌄
Odessa's median rent is $1,315/month, which is close to the national average. The median household income is $73,472/year. Median home value is $223,100.
Is Odessa, Texas safe?⌄
Odessa's violent crime rate was 286 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1159 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Odessa, Texas?⌄
Odessa has an unemployment rate of 3.6%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Odessa, Texas?⌄
The cost of living in Odessa is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,315/month and median household income is $73,472/year. The median home value is $223,100. About 51% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Odessa, Texas?⌄
The average commute in Odessa is 22 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from