RANK #905 / 1001 NAT · #56 / 72 TX · POP 174,801
1YR FORECAST: -0.5%
5YR OUTLOOK: +18%
Midland County, Texas, often referred to as "The Tall City" due to its distinctive downtown skyline, is situated in West Texas, roughly halfway between Fort Worth and El Paso. The county seat, Midland, serves as a central hub for the vast Permian Basin. Despite its arid surroundings, the area offers outdoor recreation at places like Watersong Wild Space, formerly the I-20 Wildlife Preserve, which features an 86-acre urban playa lake, hiking trails, and opportunities for birdwatching. Commuting within Midland is generally efficient, with an average one-way commute of 18.8 minutes, shorter than the national average. Public transportation includes fixed-route and on-demand bus services.
Life in Midland County is characterized by a family-friendly atmosphere and a strong sense of community. The local economy, historically driven by oil and gas production, is experiencing diversification into sectors like aerospace and logistics. Major investments are flowing into energy infrastructure and related industries, supporting job growth. The area also sees ongoing public infrastructure improvements, enhancing connectivity and preparing for future commercial and residential expansion. Midland Independent School District and Greenwood Independent School District serve the county's students.
Midland County is one of 75 U.S. counties in this market profile — weaker than typical on the BoomTown Index. Within this cohort, its recent home-price change of +2.4% runs above the profile's typical +0.8%.
See all 75 Affordable Slow Markets counties →Below national median (11.3x)
Above national median
Moderate climate & terrain
Above national median (15x)
Housing is fairly valued at 4.7x relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Bars show trailing 12-month growth. The dashed Forecast bars are the model's next-12-month projection; the whisker marks the ±1% range (cooling–accelerating).
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Texas Critical Data Centers (TCDC) Campus
New Era Energy & Digital, Stream Data Centers, Sharon AI Inc.
|
$12,000M | Under Construction |
|
FO Permian Partners/HiVolt Energy Data Center Campus
FO Permian Partners, HiVolt Energy
|
$4,500M | Planned |
|
Enterprise Products Partners Leonidas Natural Gas Processing Plant
Enterprise Products Partners L.P.
|
$500M | Operating |
|
Midland County Wind Farm
NextEra Energy
|
$141M | Permitting |
|
Pioneer Hutt Wind Energy
Pioneer Hutt Wind Energy, LLC
|
$140M | Operating |
|
Pinnacle Midstream II Dos Picos Natural Gas Processing Plant (Train 2)
Pinnacle Midstream II LLC
|
$100M | Under Construction |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
The data is not encouraging — Midland County scores just 9/100 on the Boom Town Index, ranking #905 of 1001 counties. Job growth at +1.2% and median household income of $92,874 reflect an economy that has been contracting or stagnating relative to the rest of the country.
Housing in Midland County is roughly in line with national affordability norms. The median home costs $312,700 and the income-to-home-value ratio sits at 0.30, with rents averaging $1,407/month. Not a bargain, but not a stretch for most local earners either.
Midland County is growing on multiple fronts. Population is up +1.9% year-over-year while employers added jobs at a +1.2% clip. Home values shifted +2.4% in the past year.
In significant numbers — 5.89% of Midland County's current population relocated from another state, well above the national norm. That level of in-migration usually signals a county where jobs, affordability, or quality of life are pulling people in from elsewhere.