County · Texas
Ector County, Texas
Ector County, Texas. Ector County had 173,801 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 5.2% since 2020, slower than Texas (+8.8%). It holds 4 places (2 cities, villages and boroughs and 2 census-designated) and 33 census tracts. GEOID 48135.
Ector County is the county of the Odessa, TX metropolitan statistical area (the Census Bureau's July 2023 delineation).
Residents, July 2025 estimate
173,801
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 165,171 · ACS 2020-2024: 164,654
Median household income
$71,536
±$3,707 (90% margin)
Texas: $78,476
Median home value
$200,200
±$9,662 (90% margin)
Texas: $283,800
Median gross rent
$1,259
±$48 (90% margin)
Texas: $1,403
How many people live in Ector County, and is it growing?
The 2020 Census counted 165,171 residents in Ector County. The Census Bureau estimates 173,801 for July 1, 2025, up 5.2% since 2020, slower than Texas (+8.8%). The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 164,654 over 898 square miles of land.
| Measure | Ector County | Texas | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 164,654 | 30,188,424 | +4,075 |
| Households | 64,563±626 | 10,992,816 | +12,033 |
| Average household size | 2.52±0.02 | 2.69 | −0.51 |
| Housing units | 68,899±58 | 12,128,515 | +10,506 |
Ector County's population since 2000
From 121,123 in 2000 to 173,801 in 2025: up 43.5%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); PEP Vintage 2025 (CO-EST2025); 2020 Census · Check it at data.census.gov
What cities and towns are in Ector County?
Ector County holds 4 places: 2 cities, villages and boroughs (incorporated places) and 2 census-designated places. The largest is Odessa with 122,707 residents (2025 estimate). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.
| Odessa | 114,428 | $73,472 |
|---|---|---|
| West Odessa | 33,340 | $65,234 |
| GardendaleGEOID 4828200 | 2,020 | $103,750 |
| GoldsmithGEOID 4830044 | 236 | $112,969 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 place-by-county parts · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Ector County?
The median resident of Ector County is 31.4 years old; 30.4% are under 18 and 9.9% are 65 or older. The largest group is Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 63.5%, then non-Hispanic white residents at 28.7%. 16.7% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Ector County | Texas | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 31.4±0.3 | 35.6 | +1.0 |
| Under 18 years | 30.4%±0.1 pts | 25.0% | – |
| 65 years and over | 9.9%±0.1 pts | 13.4% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 63.5% | 39.7% | +2.8 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 28.7%±0.1 pts | 39.1% | −3.6 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 4.2%±0.3 pts | 11.9% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 1.1%±0.1 pts | 5.5% | no clear change |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.1%±0.1 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.2%±0.1 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 2.1%±0.4 pts | 3.1% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.2%±0.1 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 16.7%±1.4 pts | 17.6% | +2.8 pts |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 47.1%±1.5 pts | 35.1% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 4.6%±0.7 pts | 6.2% | – |
| With a disability | 10.9%±0.8 pts | 12.3% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 22.1%±1.5 pts | 17.1% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 78.3%±1.5 pts | 86.0% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 17.6%±1.6 pts | 33.8% | +2.2 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 5.5%±0.7 pts | 12.3% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 2.0%±0.7 pts | 2.0% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Ector County earn?
Half of Ector County's 64,563 households earn less than $71,536 a year (±$3,707), against $78,476 in Texas. In 2015-2019 the median was $77,500 in 2024 dollars, so it fell by $5,964 after inflation. 16.5% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Ector County | Texas | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $71,536±$3,707 | $78,476 | −$5,964 |
| Mean household income | $94,362±$4,085 | $109,933 | – |
| Per capita income | $36,118±$1,509 | $40,752 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 16.5%±1.9 pts | 13.8% | +4.6 pts |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 22.0%±3.6 pts | 18.7% | +6.5 pts |
| Households receiving SNAP | 12.5%±1.5 pts | 11.4% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 87.6%±1.4 pts | 91.4% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Ector County?
Owners occupy 64.7% of Ector County's occupied homes and renters 35.3%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $200,200 by its owner (±$9,662). The median renter pays $1,259 a month including utilities, and 43.2% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Ector County | Texas | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $200,200±$9,662 | $283,800 | +$27,288 |
| Median gross rent | $1,259±$48 | $1,403 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 43.2%±4.9 pts | 42.3% | +13.8 pts |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,891±$64 | $2,106 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 64.7%±2.2 pts | 62.6% | no clear change |
| Housing units | 68,899±58 | 12,128,515 | +10,506 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.8%±0.4 pts | 1.1% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 4.2%±1.6 pts | 7.7% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 58.0%±2.0 pts | 64.4% | – |
| Mobile homes | 17.3%±1.6 pts | 6.4% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 2.8%±0.7 pts | 4.0% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 0.6%±0.3 pts | 3.1% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Ector County building?
Builders took permits for 921 new housing units across Ector County in 2025 (921 single-family), 5.3 per 1,000 residents.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual county files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Ector County get to work?
83.1% of Ector County's workers drive alone and 3.2% work from home. The average trip to work takes 25.0 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 5.9%.
| Measure | Ector County | Texas | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 67.2%±1.2 pts | 65.3% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 5.9%±1.0 pts | 5.3% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 83.1%±1.7 pts | 71.4% | – |
| Carpooled | 11.4%±1.6 pts | 10.0% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.2%±0.1 pts | 0.9% | – |
| Walked | 0.8%±0.3 pts | 1.5% | – |
| Worked from home | 3.2%±0.7 pts | 14.4% | no clear change |
| Mean travel time to work | 25.0 min±1.1 | 26.7 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What are Ector County's census tracts?
Ector County is divided into 33 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $37,295 (Tract 20) to $125,658 (Tract 30.01).
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Check it at data.census.gov
How does Ector County compare with Texas's other counties?
| Measure | Rank |
|---|---|
| Population | 32nd of 253 |
| Growth 2020-2025 | 94th of 254 |
| Residents per square mile | 34th of 254 |
| Median household income | 74th of 253 |
| Median home value | 85th of 247 |
| Median gross rent | 33rd of 245 |
| Poverty rate | 84th of 240 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 166th of 252 |
| Median age | 239th of 254 |
Source: PlainCities ranks from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Ector County are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' school search.