1st Advantage MortgageEctor County households have a median income of $71,536 and median rent of $1,259 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). Your income, debts and credit decide what you qualify for. Get offers in writing, compare the total repaid, and never pay a fee up front.
On this page
- Who lives in Ector County
- Ector County housing compared with Texas
- Paychecks and income spread in Ector County
- The Ector County job picture
- The communities that make up Ector County
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- Room for a loan payment in Ector County
- What the numbers mean for Ector County borrowers
- More Ector County figures
- Four steps for Ector County borrowers
- Texas rules that apply in Ector County
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Ector County
Ector County is home to about 164,654 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 32nd most populous of 254 county-level areas in Texas. It covers 898 square miles of land, or about 183 people per square mile. It is one of the counties that make up the Odessa, TX metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). Odessa is the biggest of its 4 Census places, at roughly 115,322 people (70% of the county total).
Ector County housing compared with Texas
A typical Ector County rental runs $1,259 a month including utilities, which is 10% below Texas. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 52% of renter households here. Home values center on $200,200, or 2.8 years of median income. 65% of Ector County households own their home and 35% rent.
| Cost | Ector County | Texas figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,259/mo | $1,403/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $200,200 | $283,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 65% | 63% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 52% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 30% | 29% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 17.3% | 6.4% | n/a |
When half or more of renters are already stretched, a new payment needs a stress test: what happens if a paycheck is a week late?
Paychecks and income spread in Ector County
The median household income in Ector County is $71,536; statewide it is $78,476, so Ector County runs 9% below Texas as a whole. Only 73 Texas counties post a higher median.
| Yearly household income | Ector County | Gap to Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 24.7% | +3.3 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 40.7% | +1.3 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 26.0% | -0.8 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 8.6% | -3.8 pts |
About 25% of households earn under $35,000, while 35% clear $100,000. The poverty rate is 16.5%, 3 points higher than the state's 13.8%. For a borrower in Ector County, the county median is only context: a lender looks at the income you can document, so pay stubs, benefit letters or tax returns matter more than any average.
The Ector County job picture
The biggest employer of Ector County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 18% of workers, followed by agriculture, forestry and mining (13%). Compared with Texas, the county leans toward agriculture, forestry and mining (13% against 2%). ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 5.9% in Ector County. Long commutes are the exception here: 14% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work.
| Sector | Ector County | Compared with Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 18.1% | -3.5 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 12.9% | +10.6 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.5% | +0.5 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 10.7% | +3.9 pts |
| Construction | 9.0% | +0.4 pts |
| Manufacturing | 7.7% | -0.9 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
The communities that make up Ector County
Here are the 4 most populous of the county's 4 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 91% of Ector County residents live in one of the 4. Incomes vary by place: $103,750 at the median in Gardendale, $65,234 in West Odessa. None of the 4 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Odessa | city | 115,322 | $73,472 | $1,315 | 12 mi |
| West Odessa | CDP | 32,594 | $65,234 | $891 | 3 mi |
| Gardendale | CDP | 1,544 | $103,750 | n/a | 15 mi |
| Goldsmith | city | 177 | $112,969 | n/a | 9 mi |
Neighboring counties at a glance
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (30 to 46 miles). Martin County leads the group on income ($93,734), Crane County trails ($62,212), and Ector County out-earns 2 of the six.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ector County | - | $71,536 | $1,259/mo | 65% |
| Winkler County, TX | 30 mi | $86,900 | $1,037/mo | 86% |
| Crane County, TX | 31 mi | $62,212 | $882/mo | 84% |
| Andrews County, TX | 31 mi | $72,242 | $1,305/mo | 79% |
| Midland County, TX | 32 mi | $92,874 | $1,407/mo | 68% |
| Ward County, TX | 41 mi | $65,952 | $1,118/mo | 79% |
| Martin County, TX | 46 mi | $93,734 | $971/mo | 78% |
Room for a loan payment in Ector County
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Ector County's medians:
- Start: $5,961 gross per month ($71,536 / 12)
- Housing at the median rent of $1,259 uses 21%
- At 40%, room after rent is $1,126 a month
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
What the numbers mean for Ector County borrowers
Based on the Ector County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Health costs. With 22% of the county uninsured, an interest-free hospital payment plan usually beats a loan (medical bills).
- 17% mobile homes. Many are not titled as real estate, so home-equity options may not apply; an unsecured loan is the usual route.
- 52% rent-burdened. A payment on top of high rent needs a cushion; size it with the calculator.
More Ector County figures
College graduates make up 18% of the adult population. The uninsured rate is 22.1%, against 17.1% for Texas.
| Measure | Ector County | Texas statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 31.4 | 35.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 17.6% | 33.8% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 21.7% | 14.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 22.1% | 17.1% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.1% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 3.2% | 14.4% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 16.5% | 13.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.9% | 5.3% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Ector County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 30.4% |
| 15 to 29 min | 39.8% |
| 30 to 44 min | 15.7% |
| 45 to 59 min | 5.7% |
| 60+ min | 8.3% |
Four steps for Ector County borrowers
Quick steps for Ector County:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Ector County.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Ector County-area credit union.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Texas.
- Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.
Texas rules that apply in Ector County
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Ector County borrowers answers to the Texas Department of Banking. Texas also has the Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner for consumer credit. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. More on Texas: Texas personal loans.
Nearby and statewide guides
The Texas guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
Is Ector County a high-income county?
Its $71,536 median ranks 74th of 254 Texas counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
How does Ector County rent compare with Texas?
$1,259 locally versus $1,403 for the state, 10% below.
Which towns does the Ector County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 4 Census places: Odessa, West Odessa, Gardendale, Goldsmith.
Is the fit check different in Ector County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.
Where can someone in Ector County check a lender's license?
With the Texas Department of Banking. If a lender is unlicensed or asks for a fee before funding, walk away.