The Town FilesWest Odessa, Texas
Community in Ector County · population 33,340 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $126,300
- Household income
- $65,234
- Jan low / Jul high
- 32° / 94°
- Snow a year
- 2 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 26
- Median age
- 33.7
West Odessa is a community of 33,340 people in Ector County, Texas. The median home is worth $126,300, below the typical Texas town ($184,100).
How West Odessa ranks
Percentile among Texas towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Texas towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in West Odessa is worth $126,300, below the typical Texas town ($184,100). Homes cost about 1.9 times the median household income of $65,234, which is more affordable than 83% of Texas towns. Median rent is $891 a month. 75.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | West Odessa | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $126,300 | $184,100 |
| Median rent | $891 | $1,086 |
| Median household income | $65,234 | $65,842 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.9× | 2.9× |
| Homeownership | 75.2% | 72.9% |
| Median year built | 1990 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in West Odessa
| People | West Odessa | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 33.7 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 10.0% | 15.6% |
| Under 18 | 32.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 17.8% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 16.6% | 13.1% |
| Veterans | 4.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 22.6% | — |
| Work from home | 3.2% | 7.8% |
| Average commute | 33.8 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 82.4% | 89.2% |
Weather in West Odessa
July highs average 94.0°F and January lows 32.2°F. About 12.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 2.1 inches of snow (typical Texas town: 0.2 in). Expect about 106 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 44 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
26 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of West Odessa since 1950, compared with 21 for the typical Texas town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on July 21, 1961 about 9.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on September 16, 2016.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 190 times; the largest was 4.25 inches on May 2, 2007.
Severe weather in Ector County since 1996
Ector County has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, hurricane, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| February 19, 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | DR-4586: Severe Winter Storms |
| February 14, 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | EM-3554: Severe Winter Storm |
| March 25, 2020 | Biological | DR-4485: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3458: Covid-19 |
| April 27, 2011 | Fire | FM-2901: Pleasant Farms Fire |
Jobs and pay in Ector County
Ector County had 79,763 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $75,029 a year. Unemployment was 3.3% in 2023; in West Odessa itself the ACS puts it at 6%.
Towns near West Odessa
- Odessa, TX9.5 mi · 114,428 people · home $223,100
- Midland, TX26.1 mi · 132,524 people · home $319,200
West Odessa questions
Is West Odessa, Texas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, West Odessa scores better for retirees than 30% of Texas towns and quieter than 45%. 10.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 33.7).
How much does a house cost in West Odessa?
The median owner-occupied home in West Odessa is valued at $126,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $65,234, so homes cost about 1.9 times income. Median rent is $891 a month.
What is the weather like in West Odessa?
July highs average 94.0°F and January lows 32.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 12.3 inches of precipitation a year and 2.1 inches of snow.
Does West Odessa get tornadoes?
26 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of West Odessa since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on July 21, 1961. The typical Texas town has had 21.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)