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Living in
West Odessa.
West Odessa is an unincorporated community in Ector County, TX. It has no city government: the county runs it, and the Census counts it as its own place.
About
Life in West Odessa
If you're considering West Odessa, you're looking at a young, growing community that's more affordable than many Texas metros while still offering decent job prospects. That said, it's an unincorporated area—no city government of its own—so services depend on county and school district infrastructure. The area skews family-oriented with over 44% of households raising kids, and the Ector County Independent School District serves the area, though the college degree rate is lower than national averages at 16.5%.
West Odessa at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
33.7 yrs
Poverty Rate
16.6%
Foreign-Born
22.6%
Broadband Internet
82.4%
of households
Median household income
Demographics22.6% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in West Odessa: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In West Odessa, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (78.8%), and 55.1% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
32.2%
of residents
65 and Older
10.0%
of residents
Households with Kids
40.7%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
28.1%
of households
Married Couples
44.5%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.67
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 Living
Rent, home values, and income in West Odessa
In West Odessa, home values are 55% below the TX average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
19.8%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
13.8%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
93.9
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$1,334
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
75.2%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1990
median year built
Vacant Homes
6.9%
of housing units
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.5 pts below TX average
Unemployment in West Odessa
Unemployment in Ector County, which includes West Odessa, is 0.5 percentage points lower than the TX average.
Unemployment rate
West Odessa: Ector County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Ector County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What West Odessa Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute33.8 min avg
How West Odessa residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In West Odessa, most residents drive alone to work (85%), and 48% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 18 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 38% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in the area policed by the Ector County Sheriff's Office, which covers West Odessa, runs 38% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
455.2
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
2,192.1
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Policed by Ector County Sheriff's Office (county-wide rate)
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 West 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.
225 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 West 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
West 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
15.4"
Annual Snowfall
2.1"
Hot Days/Year
106
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
44
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
41
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" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in West Odessa
Uninsured
30.3%
of residents
No hospitals inside West Odessa's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Odessa Regional Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 6.6 mi away · Odessa
Medical Center Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 6.7 mi away · Odessa
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.
Education20.1:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in West Odessa
West Odessa's student/teacher ratio is 20.1:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 17.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
4
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
17.8%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
20.1:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near West Odessa (within 15 miles)
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
9.4 mi awayPublic · 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 West Odessa
Data not yet available
Cities Near West Odessa
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to West Odessa?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
West Odessa FAQ
Is West Odessa, Texas safe?⌄
West Odessa is policed by the Ector County Sheriff's Office, whose violent crime rate across its service area was 455 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 2192 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in West Odessa, Texas?⌄
Ector County, which includes West Odessa, has an unemployment rate of 3.7%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
How is the commute in West Odessa, Texas?⌄
The average commute in West Odessa is 34 minutes, which is longer than 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