Affordable Storage in Odessa

Moving and storage go hand in hand. Whether traveling across town or the country, moving is an exciting and fresh start. While Storage Rentals of America is here to help you with all your storage needs, we also want to help you get familiar with the area. That's why we put together this resource guide for Odessa.

About Odessa, TX

Odessa is the county seat of Ector County. The 2020 census counted 114,428 people living in this vibrant city in the middle of the state. The larger Odessa Metro Area has a population of 278,801 (U.S. 2020 Census). When combined with the population of Midland, 340,391 people are living in and around this city.

Odessa, just like Midland, was established in 1881. It was a watering stop for cattle shipping via the Texas and Pacific Railroad. In 1891, it became the county seat of Ector County. It was named after a sister city in Ukraine with the same name. The local grassland resembles the landscape in Ukraine.

It developed slower than nearby Midland, and oil was not discovered until the late 1920s. In 1925, the population was only 750. By 1930, 2,407 people lived there. A year later, the population doubled to over 5,000.

The local economy went up and down with oil booms and busts. The area had oil booms in the 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1970s, and 2010s. The busts came in the 1960s and 1980s.

In contemporary times, the oil is flowing, making America energy independent from the rest of the world.

What to do in Odessa, TX

Odessa blends with Midland. The two cities have all the big city amenities desired with a laid-back country-ranch style.

• Features: McKinney Park is a sports and splash pad that is nice to visit in summer to cool off from the summer heat.
• Events: Popular events sponsored by the city are the Shamrock Run 5K, Take Me Fishing, Easter Spring Fling, Mother Son Dance, BEST Beginners Edge Sports Training, Father Daughter Dance, Movies in the Park, Summer Pool Parties, American Tribute, Fall Festival, Parade of Lights, Starbright Village, and Jingle Bell Run.
• Museums: Interesting museums are the Stonehenge Replica, the Ellen Noel Art Museum, the Midland Army Airfield Museum, and the Permian Basin Petroleum Museum.
• Destinations: The Odessa Meteor Crater is a hole created by the impact of a meteor that happened over 50,000 years ago. The I-20 Wildlife Preserve & Jenna Welch Nature Study Center offers bird- and animal-watching at Playa Lake.

Working in Odessa, TX

The local economy depends on petroleum, retail, health care, and education. The unemployment rate is 9.9%, which is too high. The median household income is $66,769 per year, which is about $2,000 less than the American average of $69,021. The economy is keeping a steady pace with job creation when compared to the national average. Odessa's predicted job growth rate for the next ten years is 32.6%, compared to the predicted national average of 33.5%.

The industries offering the most jobs are education (10%), health care (9.5%), petroleum mining (6.9%), hospitality (6.8%), repair/maintenance (3.6%), and waste management (3.6%).

Odessa, TX Neighborhoods

The best neighborhoods are on the southeastern side of the town.

Here are a few areas with the most luxurious homes for sale:

• SE Loop 338 E / Lone Star Drive: This nice neighborhood has a median real estate price of $410,555, which is more expensive than 73.6% of the rest of the state. Most homes were built after 2000. Some were constructed between 1970 to 1999. Rental homes are $1,425 monthly. The vacancy rate is 0%, making finding a place to rent in this area almost impossible.
• Warfield: This nice neighborhood has a median real estate price of $349,099. Apartments and homes are available for an average rent of $1,869 monthly. The vacancy rate is 13.7%, so renting a place in this area is easy.
• Parks Lagado East: This area has some cowboy ranch homes. The median real estate price in this neighborhood is $339,957. Rental homes are available for an average rent of $ 1,727 per month. There are apartment complexes and mobile homes in this area. The vacancy rate is 10.1%.
• Greenfield Acres / North Gate: The median real estate price is $322,339. This neighborhood has a mixture of homes and apartment complexes. Most of the houses are owner-occupied. They were built between 1970 and 1999 with a few newer houses. The vacancy rate is 18.5%. The average rent is $1,350 per month.

Odessa, TX School District

The Ector County Independent School District is the administrator of the public schools. The school district spends $9,743 annually for each student, which is a bit low compared to other districts in the area. The student-to-teacher ratio of 17 to one creates an average class size.

There are six private schools in Odessa. The top-ranked private schools are St. Johns Episcopal School (PK to 8th), St. Marys Central Catholic School (PK to 8th), and Crossroads School (PK to 4th).

There are three colleges and universities within a 50-mile area. Odessa's best public universities are the two-year Odessa College and the four-year University of Texas of the Permian Basin.

Moving to Odessa, TX Resource Guide

The City of Odessa has an elected mayor who works with six elected members serving on the City Council.

The Odessa Department of Parks & Recreation manages the public parks, athletic programs, city-sponsored events, and the Ratliff Ranch Golf Course.

Odessa, TX Housing

The median home price is $295,000 if you want to buy a home in Odessa. This price is trending up by 13.5% year-over-year. It’s a buyer’s market with more homes listed for sale than interested buyers.

The cost of living in Odessa is lower (2% less) than other cities in the state and 10% lower than the national average.