Welcome to Odessa

Odessa is known for the oil and gas industry, it sits above the Permian Basin, one of the world's most productive energy fields. The city gained national fame as the setting for Friday Night Lights, the book and film about Permian High School football. It was also the 1948 home of George H.W. Bush, George W. Bush, and Barbara Bush.

Spring (March-May) and fall (September-November) offer the mildest weather, with warm days and cooler nights. Summers are extremely hot and sunny, while winters are cool and dry with occasional high winds. Avoid mid-summer if you're sensitive to heat, temperatures regularly exceed 95°F.

Odessa had a population of 114,428 at the 2020 census, making it the 34th-most populous city in Texas. The broader Midland-Odessa combined statistical area had 359,001 residents in 2020. The city's population has historically grown and contracted with oil boom-and-bust cycles.

Odessa has a hot semiarid climate with scorching summers (often exceeding 95°F), cool winters, and very little rainfall. The area gets around 265 sunny days per year, large daily temperature swings, and frequent high winds. Snow is rare, and most rain falls in late spring and summer.

Odessa is family-oriented, with 38% of households having children under 18 and a median age of 33. The city has strong school pride (especially around football) and the University of Texas Permian Basin. For retirees, the low cost of living and sunny climate are draws, though the economy's oil-driven volatility and extreme summer heat may be considerations.

Odessa is in West Texas, about 300 miles west of Fort Worth and 20 miles southwest of Midland. It's the county seat of Ector County, along the southwestern edge of the Llano Estacado. The nearest airport is Midland International Air and Space Port (MAF), about 15 miles away, with Interstate 20 running through the city.