Odessa, TX Local Data & Statistics

State: TX

Total population: 115,322 Household income: $73,472 Rent: $1,315

Overview

Total population

115,322

Rent

$1,315

Year built

1980

Household income

$73,472

Per capita income

$38,171

Poverty rate

16.2%

Unemployment rate

3.1%

Household size

2.4 persons

Rent over 30% of income

51.3%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available, with the exception of the unemployment rate, which is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). ACS 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Demographics

State

Texas

Total population

115,322

Adults over 25

70,195

Total households

46,660

Household size

2.4 persons

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Income & Poverty

Household income

$73,472

Per capita income

$38,171

Poverty rate

16.2%

Unemployment rate

3.1%

Rent over 30% of income

51.3%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Housing

Rent

$1,315

Year built

1980

Households that rent

40.2%

Households that own

59.8%

Rooms per home (all homes)

5.1

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Race

White

47.4%

Black

6.1%

Asian

1.8%

Two or more races

26.2%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino

62.7%

Not Hispanic or Latino

37.3%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Commute

Commute rate

96.6%

Commute time to work

22 mins

Work from home

3.4%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Education

Less than high school

38.2%

High school graduate or GED

31.2%

Some college or associate degree

11.5%

Bachelor’s degree or higher

19%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Comparison of Odessa, TX with: Texas United States

Odessa, TX

Total population115,322

Rent$1,315

Year built1980

Household income$73,472

Per capita income$38,171

Poverty rate16.2%

Unemployment rate3.1%

Texas State

Total population30,188,424

Rent$1,403

Year built1992

Household income$78,476

Per capita income$40,752

Poverty rate13.8%

Unemployment rate4.1%

United States

Total population334,922,499

Rent$1,413

Year built1980

Household income$80,734

Per capita income$44,673

Poverty rate12.5%

Unemployment rate4%

Metric	CityOdessa, TX	StateTexas	CountryUnited States
Total population	115,322	30,188,424	334,922,499
Rent	$1,315	$1,403	$1,413
Year built	1980	1992	1980
Household income	$73,472	$78,476	$80,734
Per capita income	$38,171	$40,752	$44,673
Poverty rate	16.2%	13.8%	12.5%
Unemployment rate	3.1%	4.1%	4%

View the complete comparison of Odessa, TX, Texas and United States →

Summary for Odessa, TX

Odessa is located in Texas.

Rent & Income

In Odessa, the typical monthly rent is $1,315 and the typical household income is $73,472. Rent here is lower than in both Texas and the U.S., and household income is also lower than in both. The estimated poverty rate is 16.2%, which is higher than in both Texas and national.

Housing & Affordability

This area is primarily owner-occupied, with renters accounting for about 40.2% of households. About 51.3% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing, indicating high cost burden.

Education & Employment

Only about 19% of adults have a bachelor’s degree or higher, indicating lower levels of formal education. The local unemployment rate is 3.1%, which is lower than both Texas and the national rate.

Odessa, TX — Rent vs Household Income

Odessa, TX — Poverty vs Unemployment

How Odessa, TX compares in Texas (71 places)

Metric	This place	Rank	Starts from	Statewide range
Rent	$1,315	29 / 71	from lower rent	$923 – $2,231
Household income	$73,472	38 / 71	from higher income	$46,354 – $161,235
Poverty rate	16.2%	44 / 71	from lower poverty	3.6% – 29.2%
Unemployment rate	3.1%	12 / 71	from lower unemployment	2.6% – 8.2%

Rankings are calculated among cities and communities in Texas with total population > 50,000 (year 2024).

Detailed Ranking Explanation for Odessa, TX

Rent

Odessa ranks 29th out of 71 large places in Texas for rent. Statewide rents range from $923 in Brownsville, TX to $2,231 in Flower Mound, TX.

Household income

Looking at household income, Odessa places 38th out of 71 significant areas. Incomes across Texas range between $46,354 in Port Arthur, TX and $161,235 in Flower Mound, TX.

Poverty rate

In poverty comparisons, Odessa ranks 44th out of 71 large places. Statewide rates vary from 3.6% in Frisco, TX to 29.2% in College Station, TX.

Unemployment rate

In terms of unemployment, Odessa is ranked 12th out of 71 major areas. Across Texas, rates go from 2.6% in Amarillo, TX up to 8.2% in Port Arthur, TX.

💰 Rent in Odessa, TX (with Utilities)

Estimated Monthly Rent: $1,315 ℹ️ What’s Included:
✅ Base rent, electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuels
❌ Not included: internet, cable TV, renter's insurance, parking

💡 What does this rent estimate mean?

Explanation: This estimate shows what renters typically pay each month for housing, including the apartment or home and essential utilities such as heat, water, and electricity. Even when utilities are billed separately, an estimated average cost for utilities is included, in line with the U.S. Census Bureau’s (ACS) definition of gross rent.

Included in this number: Rent plus electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuel.

Not included: Internet, cable, parking, renter’s insurance, or furniture rental.

Note: This cost does not depend on the number of people living in the home.

👨‍👧‍👦 Household Income in Odessa, TX

Annual Household Income: $73,472

💡 What does Household Income mean?

Definition: This represents the middle value of all household incomes in this area — half of households earn less, and half earn more.

Includes: wages, salaries, self-employment income, Social Security, pensions, investments, unemployment, public assistance, and rental income.

Does NOT include: capital gains, non-cash benefits (like food stamps), or tax refunds.

Household = any group of people (or a single person) living in the same housing unit.

Example: A couple earning $40,000 and $30,000 together have a household income of $70,000. If that's in the middle of all local incomes, it's the value shown here.

📉 Poverty Rate in Odessa, TX

Estimated Rate: 16.2%

💡 What does the Poverty Rate represent?

Definition: The percentage of people in this area living below the federal poverty threshold.

How it works: The threshold is a dollar amount set by the U.S. Census Bureau that varies by family size and age. If a household's income is below that level, everyone in it is included in this rate.

Example: In a town of 10,000 people, if 1,500 have incomes below the poverty line, the poverty rate is 15%.

Note: This statistic only includes people living in households; it does not count those in student housing, military barracks, or nursing homes.

🏘️ Renter vs. Owner Households in Odessa, TX

In Odessa, TX, households that rent: 18,769 (40.2%)

📊 What does the renter household percentage reveal about this area?

Household Type	Count	Share
Renter-Occupied	18,769	40.2%
Owner-Occupied	27,891	59.8%

Definition: This is the percentage of households that rent their home rather than own it. It includes only occupied housing units.

Why it matters: Areas with a high share of renter households often have younger populations, higher mobility, and different housing needs compared to mostly owner-occupied areas.

Example: If 65% of homes in an area are renter-occupied, it means 65 out of every 100 households rent their home.

📉 Renters Spending Over 30% of Income on Rent in Odessa, TX

In Odessa, TX, cost-burdened renters (households spending over 30% of income on housing): 9,634 (51.3%)

🏚️ What Does It Mean When Renters Spend Over 30% of Their Income on Housing?

Household Group	Households	Share
Cost-burdened renters (over 30%)	9,634	51.3%
Other renter households	9,135	48.7%
Total renter households	18,769	100%

Shares are calculated as a percentage of renter households.

This shows how many renters in this area are considered cost-burdened — meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on housing (rent and basic utilities).

It’s a sign that housing might be unaffordable in the area or that lower-income residents may be struggling with rent.

Data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.

📊 Education Levels in Odessa, TX

Less than High School: 26,841 people (38.2%)

Includes adults who did not complete high school.

High School Graduate or GED: 21,927 people (31.2%)

Includes adults whose highest education is a high school diploma or GED.

Some College or Associate Degree: 8,104 people (11.5%)

Includes adults who attended college without completing a bachelor’s degree (some college or associate degree).

Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 13,323 people (19%)

Includes adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher (bachelor’s, master’s, professional, or doctoral degree).

👥 Total Adults (25+): 70,195

📊 Unemployment Rate in Odessa, TX

Estimated Rate: 3.1%

💡 What does Unemployment Rate mean?

Definition: The unemployment rate is the percentage of people in the labor force who do not have a job but are actively looking for one.

Labor Force = Employed + Unemployed (aged 16+ and actively participating in the workforce).

Formula: (Unemployed ÷ Labor Force) × 100

Does NOT include: People who are retired, students not looking for work, homemakers, or otherwise not seeking employment.

Example: If there are 1000 people in the labor force and 80 are unemployed, then the unemployment rate is 8%.

Similar Population

High Point, NC115,263 Richmond, CA115,396 Manchester, NH115,415 Westminster, CO115,546 Antioch, CA115,759 League City, TX114,885 Lowell, MA114,799 Broken Arrow, OK115,919 Carlsbad, CA114,500 West Jordan, UT116,277

ℹ️ Have questions about how these statistics are calculated? See our data methodology & FAQs

Source: ACS 5-Year Estimates (U.S. Census Bureau) — unemployment rate from BLS. Some values are derived metrics.