Example household · Odessa, TX · $83,730 · same pay · 1 adult

Midland skyline

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Odessa vs Midland

Odessa and Midland

Photo: Quintin Soloviev / Wikimedia, CC BY 4.0

Assumed income $83,730, same in both cities. Example, until you change it.

Same pay in both cities. One adult, one bedroom.

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So you know: homicide deaths in Midland are under the US rate in this release, 5.7 versus 6.5 per 100,000. CDC via County Health Rankings, CDC NVSS 2017–2023 (CHR 2025 release).

Why people look at Odessa to Midland

In 2022-2023, 1,168 households filed a move from Odessa to Midland (about 2,398 people, average adjusted gross income $78,629). 970 households went the other way. Source: IRS migration.

A one-bedroom asking rent is about $1,178 in Odessa and $1,254 in Midland. Odessa has no state tax on wages. Midland has no state tax on wages. Local pay in Midland is 108% of the national level for the same work, against 99% in Odessa.

Midland averages 263 sunny days, with July highs around 97°F and January nights around 35°F. Odessa is 269 sunny days, 97°F in July, 35°F in January. Commutes average 22 minutes in Midland and 25 in Odessa.

These figures are projections built from available public data. Conditions change, and the numbers may not reflect current prices, taxes, or immigration rules. Check official sources before you make decisions.

How we figure this

Who already made this move

In 2022-2023, 1,168 households moved Odessa → Midland (about 2,398 people, average AGI $78,629). 970 households went the other way.

Source: IRS SOI county-to-county migration. Not a moving company; not a recommendation.

The monthly number is take-home pay minus rent and the other bills. The gap between Odessa and Midland changes with the job, remote or local pay, and bedrooms. How we figure this.

What the move itself costs

About 43 road miles, 1 bedroom. Typical ranges, not quotes.

Full-service mover
$1,550–$2,950
Container or pod
$1,050–$1,950
Rent a truck
$350–$650

Movers in Midland and how to hire one →

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Questions

Is Midland cheaper than Odessa after tax and rent?

No. Midland leaves about $76 less a month, so the cost of living is higher there for this household. A one-bedroom is about $1,178 in Odessa and $1,254 in Midland.

Does Midland have state income tax?

Midland is in Texas, which has no state income tax.

Did people actually move from Odessa to Midland?

Yes, when the IRS published that flow. The count and their average income are on this page. Leftover prices the same household in both cities.