MIDLAND AMONG U.S. NEWS’ BEST PLACES TO LIVE IN NATION
(May 28, 2025)
MIDLAND, TEXAS -- Midland landed as the 65th best place to live in the United States, according to U.S. News and World Report’s 250 Best Places to Live in the U.S. in 2025-2026.
Midland ranked 20th in the state of Texas and as the No. 18 “medium-sized city to live” in the U.S. Midland also was the top-ranked larger metropolitan area in West Texas, according to the report.
“To make the top of the list, a place had to have good value, be a desirable place to live, have a strong job market and a high quality of life,” the report stated.
The publication said of Midland, “About 138,366 people live in Midland, and the median age here is 31.8. … The median household income in Midland is $91,309, and the average commute time is about 16.37 minutes. The unemployment rate here is 2.68%. … If you want to buy a house in Midland, the median home value is $291,451. … And if you're a renter, you can expect the median rent here to be $1,203.”
Other metrics included:
- 31% of the population are under age 20, 16% are 25-34 years old, 16% are 35-44 and 19% are 45-65. About 11% of the Midland population is over age 65.
- There are fewer single people in Midland than the national average. 59.3% of the Midland population is married, and 40.7% is single.
The report added that “the national average home value is $370,489, while the median home value in Midland is $291,451. Midland offers a lower value of living compared to similarly sized cities.”
The three highest-ranked cities across the nation were Johns Creek, Georgia; Carmel, Indiana; and Pearland, Texas.
Pearland, League City and Leander were the three highest ranked cities in Texas.
Other West Texas communities include San Angelo (ranked 90th), Abilene (120th), Amarillo (137th), Odessa (145th) and Lubbock (169th).