Odessa TX
Texas · Pop. 115,322
Odessa, TX: median household income of $73,472, median rent of $1,315/mo, 5.9% unemployment. Our verdict: It Depends.
Score Breakdown
Key Metrics
Median Income
$73,472
per year
Median Rent
$1,315
per month
Median Home
$223k
home value
Unemployment
5.9%
of labor force
Poverty Rate
16.2%
below poverty line
Avg. Commute
22 min
one way
City Reality Check balanced
"Odessa, TX Reality Check"
In Odessa, the rent-to-income burden runs around 21% — refreshingly manageable by national standards. Median income sits at $73,472 and median rent is $1,315/month. 51% of renters are cost-burdened (30%+ of income on housing). Landlords are winning; everyone else is treading water. Median home value: $223,100 — that's 3× the median income. Only 19% of adults hold a bachelor's degree. The economy runs on trades, logistics, and service work — and the wages reflect that. With a median age of 31, this is a young city — high energy, high turnover, and a lot of people figuring out adulthood simultaneously. Employment picture: 5.92% unemployment — a average employment landscape. Poverty rate: 16.2%. Average commute: 22 minutes — acceptable. Odessa was founded in 1881 — that's 145 years of history baked into the streets. The city covers 42.2 sq miles at 2,732 people/sq mile — spread out. Elevation: 2,900 ft — high-altitude living. RoastMyCity overall score: 69/100 — It Depends.