Living in Odessa, TX
Odessa is the 243rd-largest city in the US, home to about 123,000 people in 2025. It has grown 7.2% since 2020. Prices across the metro area run below the national average (93.9 on an index where the US is 100).
- Population, 2025
- 122,707+7.2% since 2020
- Median home value
- $223,1003.0 years of median income
- Median rent
- $1,315/morent plus utilities
- Household income
- $73,472median, per year
- Price level
- 93.9US average = 100
- January / July highs
- 59° / 96°lows 33° / 73°
- Average commute
- 22 min3% work from home
- State income tax
- Noneon wages
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County: Ector County, Midland County
Time zone: Central Time (UTC-6, UTC-5 in summer)
Elevation: about 2,900 ft
Metro area: Odessa, TX
Cost of living in Odessa
The median home in Odessa is worth $223,100 and the median household earns $73,472 a year, so a typical home costs about 3.0 years of income. Median gross rent (rent plus utilities) is $1,315 a month, about 22% of the median household's income. BEA puts overall prices in the Odessa, TX metro area at 93.9, with housing at 89.7 and goods at 93.8 (US = 100). In practice, a $75,000 salary in an average-priced place stretches about as far as $70,400 here. Texas has no state income tax on wages. The average combined state and local sales tax in Texas is 8.2%.
What would my salary be worth in Odessa?
Odessa weather
Average highs run from 59°F in January to 96°F in July, and January nights average 33°F. It gets 14 inches of rain and melted snow a year and 4 inches of snow. Expect about 115 days a year at 90°F or hotter. The most comfortable months are March to April and October.
Month-by-month weather and the best time to visit Odessa
People and work
The median resident is 31.1 years old, and 19% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. 60% of households own their home. The average one-way commute is 22 minutes; 3% of workers work from home.
- Median age
- 31.141st youngest of 546
- Bachelor's or higher
- 19%adults 25+
- Homeowners
- 60%of households
- People per sq mile
- 2,35852.0 sq mi of land
- Take transit to work
- 0%1% walk, 0.1% bike
- Unemployment
- 5.9%2020-2024 average
- Poverty rate
- 16.2%of residents
- Typical home built
- 1980median year
Who moves to Odessa, and where people go
From farther away, newcomers most often come from El Paso (El Paso County), Miami (Miami-Dade County) and Houston (Harris County). People who leave for somewhere more than 100 miles away most often head to El Paso (El Paso County), Fort Worth (Tarrant County) and San Antonio (Bexar County). See the map and full lists
IRS county-to-county migration, 2022 to 2023 tax years. Where Americans are moving.
Natural hazards, home prices and air quality
Natural hazard risk
Relatively Moderate
FEMA rating for Ector County, scored against every US county. Biggest risks: winter weather, hail, strong wind, lightning.
Home prices
+0.1% in a year
Up 25% over five years. FHFA house price index for the Odessa, TX area, 2026 Q2.
Air quality, 2025
72% good days
2 days unhealthy at least for sensitive groups. EPA daily air quality index for the Odessa, TX area (358 days measured).
FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025) combines expected losses from 18 natural hazards with how vulnerable and resilient the community is. It describes the county, not your street; check flood maps for a specific address at FEMA's Flood Map Service Center.
Parks and sights near Odessa
The best-known parks, museums, zoos and landmarks within about 35 miles. Tap Been or Want to add them to your city passport.
- Odessa College 2 miles
Places from Wikidata (CC0), linked to each one's official site or Wikipedia article. Check hours and fees before you go.
Airports near Odessa
| Airport | Distance | Passengers boarding in 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Midland International Airport MAF | 12 mi | 761,865 |
Federal Aviation Administration, calendar year 2024 passenger boardings (enplanements) at commercial service airports. Straight-line distance.
Colleges in and near Odessa
| College | Distance | Undergrads | Net price a year | Graduate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Odessa College | 2 mi | 4,654 | $5,895 | n/a |
| The University of Texas Permian Basin | 4 mi | 3,911 | $5,070 | 41% |
US Department of Education College Scorecard, October 2026 release. Net price is the average yearly cost after grants for students who get federal aid. Graduate: share finishing within 150% of normal time.
Frost dates and fall color in Odessa
Half the years, the last spring night at 32°F comes before March 18, so plant tender crops after that date or wait a week or two to be safer. Fall color depends on the trees, but the US Department of Agriculture says the brightest leaves come with warm, sunny days and cool nights, and that frost ruins vivid color. Here, cool 36°F nights usually start around November 5 and the first frost comes around November 14.
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals for Midland Odessa, TX, median (50%) dates. All frost dates for Odessa.
Wildfire smoke in Odessa
From 2021 through 2025, a smoke plume covered Odessa on about 107 days a year, including about 8 days of medium or heavy smoke. Smoke high overhead can turn sunsets red without reaching the ground, so check the air quality reading before you change plans.
NOAA Hazard Mapping System smoke analysis, daily satellite plumes over the city center, 2021 to 2025. Smoke days for every city.
Home internet in Odessa
Census Bureau American Community Survey 2020-2024, table B28002, 46,660 households. Compare every city.
Public schools in Odessa
Downtown Odessa is in this district. Neighborhoods farther out may belong to a different one, so check the address with the district before you buy or rent.
| District | Grades | Students | Schools | Students per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ector County Independent School District | Pre-K to 12 | 33,663 | 44 | 19.5 |
Other districts within 10 miles: Midland Independent School District (29,651 students).
National Center for Education Statistics, school district boundaries and characteristics, 2024-25 school year.
Odessa's twin cities
Cities at least 250 miles away with the closest match to Odessa's weather month by month and its costs (price level, home values and rent).
- Waco, TX74% matchCompare
- Killeen, TX72% matchCompare
- Temple, TX71% matchCompare
- Las Cruces, NM69% matchCompare
Find a twin that is cheaper, warmer or cooler
Stargazing near Odessa
The nearest certified International Dark Sky Places:
Designations by DarkSky International as recorded in Wikidata (CC0). All dark sky places.
Pros and cons of living in Odessa
Data points come from the official sources on this page. Points marked Local come from people who live here, are read by a person before they appear, and are ranked by readers.
Pros
- Data Homes are affordable for locals: the median home costs 3.0 years of median household income, lower than in three quarters of the cities we cover.
- Data Everyday prices in the metro run 6% below the US average (BEA).
- Data Texas has no state income tax on wages.
Cons
- Data Summers are long and hot: about 115 days a year reach 90°F.
Odessa report card from locals
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Cities near Odessa
| City | Distance | Population | Home value | Price level | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Midland, TX | 20 mi | 147,615 | $319,200 | 95.8 | Compare |
| San Angelo, TX | 117 mi | 100,640 | $187,600 | 92.5 | Compare |
| Lubbock, TX | 123 mi | 273,071 | $212,400 | 91.3 | Compare |
| Abilene, TX | 160 mi | 131,588 | $183,700 | 90.4 | Compare |
| El Paso, TX | 231 mi | 683,012 | $184,500 | 89.9 | Compare |
| Amarillo, TX | 235 mi | 205,130 | $196,900 | 91.8 | Compare |
Straight-line distance between city centers.
Cities with a similar profile
Closest match on climate, price level, size, income and median age, outside the immediate area.
Compare Odessa with another city
Frequently asked questions
Is Odessa a good place to live?
It depends on what you need. The numbers show prices below the national average, homes that cost under four years of median income, a growing population, no state income tax on wages, short commutes; the trade-offs are 115 days a year at 90°F or hotter. Compare Odessa side by side with another city to see how it stacks up for you.
What is the population of Odessa?
The Census Bureau estimates Odessa had 122,707 residents on July 1, 2025, compared with 114,444 in April 2020 (+7.2%).
How much do you need to earn to live in Odessa?
Using BEA price levels, a $75,000 salary in an average-priced US city buys about the same as $70,400 in the Odessa area. The median household here earns $73,472.
When is the best time to visit Odessa?
By the 1991-2020 climate normals, March to April and October are the most comfortable months. July averages 96°F and January 59°F for daytime highs.
What county is Odessa in?
Most of Odessa (83% of its land) is in Ector County. Smaller parts lie in Midland County. Source: Census Bureau 2020 geography.
What time zone is Odessa in?
Odessa is on Central Time (UTC-6, or UTC-5 during daylight saving time from March to November).
What is the elevation of Odessa?
About 2,900 feet above sea level at the city center. Elevation varies across the city.
Does Texas have a state income tax?
No. Texas does not tax wage income.
Sources
Population: Census Bureau Vintage 2025 estimates (July 1, 2025). Income, housing, education and commuting: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates for the city of Odessa. Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 for the Odessa, TX metro area. Weather: NOAA 1991-2020 normals, Midland Odessa, TX station. Taxes: Tax Foundation 2026. How we get our numbers.