Odessa, TX is a western city in the state of Texas, located in Ector County. Odessa is about 22 miles southwest of Midland and 132 miles west of San Angelo. Odessa is the county seat of Ector County. Odessa is rumored to have been named after Odessa, Ukraine because of the similarity between the two locations’ landscapes.
Population & Demographics
The 2019 population of Odessa was 123,334. Odessa is a diverse place to live, with a demographic breakdown of 57.6% Hispanic, 45.3% White and 5.5% Black or African American. Married couples account for 48.6% of households in Odessa, and 68.8% of homes in Odessa house families. Wondering if Odessa is a safe place to live? Total crime in Odessa is 66% higher than the national average.
Odessa, TX Cost of Living
If you’re thinking about moving, you are probably wondering how far your money will go in Odessa. Is Odessa affordable? Of course, this will depend on your career potential and lifestyle, but overall, Odessa is 5% less expensive than the national average! Housing in Odessa is 6% lower than the national average. Transportation in Odessa is 2% lower than the national average, and groceries are about 9% cheaper in Odessa than the national average.
Homeownership in Odessa is below the national average. In Odessa, the homeownership rate is 59.7%; the national average is 64.1%. Estimated median sale price for a home in Odessa is $151,500, which is an increase of 1% since last year. Homes in Odessa are selling in about 81 days on the market. Click to see what’s going on with the Odessa real estate market.
In Odessa, approximately 33% of people rent their homes. The average rent cost in Odessa is $1176 a month, which is less expensive than the national average of $1302.
Odessa, TX Weather
Odessa’s climate is considered semiarid, which means it has hot and sunny summers and mild, dry winters. On average, Odessa sees about 13.5 inches a year of precipitation. The average temperature in January is 46.1 and the average temperature in July is 82.7.
Things to Do in Odessa, TX
There are plenty of recreational options for the residents of Odessa. Here are some of Odessa’s residents’ favorite places to go:
Ellen Noel Art Museum
This museum was built as the result of many years of fundraising by local Odessa residents who wanted a fine arts museum. The Ellen Noel Art Museum is one of the few art museums in Texas grated status as an official Smithsonian Affiliate. It has four galleries, two classrooms, family space, and a sculpture and sensory garden.
4909 E. University Blvd., Odessa, TX 79762
Historic White-Pool House
The oldest remaining structure in Ector County, the Historic White-Pool House was built in 1887 and restored to its glory from the days of pioneers and the oil boom. Tours are held at this facility, and it hosts events like wedding receptions and corporate parties.
112 E. Murphy St., Odessa, TX 79761
Odessa Parks & Recreation also has great facilities and activities, for people of all ages that want to get outside, exercise or learn a new skill.
Additional Things to Do in and around Odessa
Odessa Restaurants
There are many great restaurant options living in Odessa. Here are a few of the best rated places Odessa residents love to dine:
Cork & Pig Tavern
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A unique menu blend of wood-fired pizzas, gourmet salads and signature entrees, Cork & Pig Tavern has constantly been rated one of the best restaurants in Odessa!
7260 E. State Highway 191, Suite 204, Odessa, TX 79765
Mi Piaci
A local, family-owned and operated Italian restaurant, Mi Piaci serves pizza, sub sandwiches, steak and all the Italian classics.
2607 North Grandview, Odessa, TX 79761
Odessa, TX Map
See what Odessa has to offer by checking out the map below.
Odessa, TX Statistics & Information
Odessa is located in Ector County. Odessa’s zip codes are 79761, 79762, 79763, 79764 and 79766. The elevation of Odessa, TX is 2900 feet. Odessa is in the Central Standard Time Zone. The area of Odessa is 51.36 square miles.
Jobs in Odessa, TX
The median household income in Odessa is $63,847 per year. Great news – salaries in Odessa increased by 1.11% from 2018 to 2019. The most popular jobs in Odessa are sales, construction and extraction and office and administrative support occupations. The biggest industries that employ Odessa residents are mining, quarrying, oil and gas extraction, retail trade and health care and social assistance. About 11.1% of Odessa residents live below the poverty line, which is just under the national average of 12.3%. The demographic most affected by poverty in Odessa is women between the ages of 25 and 34.
The average commute time in Odessa is about 21 minutes, which is about 4 minutes less than the national average. About 81% of Odessa residents choose to drive alone to work rather than carpool, and nearly all Odessa households own two cars. Will you be working in Midland and living in Odessa? Your commute will be a breeze! Click here to see what the 20 mile drive from Odessa to Midland will be like.
Looking for employment in the Odessa area? Click here to check out what is currently listed in Odessa on Indeed.com. Would you prefer to work for a municipality? If you would rather be employed by the City of Odessa, they are hiring! Click here to see what positions are currently available.
Schools in Odessa, TX
Odessa is served by the Ector County Independent School District. The top-rated schools in Odessa are El Magnet at Reagan Elementary, Odessa Collegiate Academy Early College High School and Gale Pond Alamo Elementary School. If parents prefer to send their children to private or parochial school, there are 6 in the Odessa to choose from. Students will also have access to the public library in Odessa, part of the Ector County Library system.
Living in Odessa Pros & Cons
- Pro: Low Cost of Living
- Con: High Crime Rate
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