Build Your Future in Midland, Texas
Big skies. Bigger opportunities. A community that calls you by name.
Situated deep in West Texas’ Permian Basin, Midland sits almost exactly halfway between Fort Worth and El Paso on Interstate 20—hence the town’s original name, the “mid-land” stop on the Texas & Pacific Railroad when it was founded in 1881. That rail water-stop grew modestly until May 28, 1923, when the Santa Rita No. 1 well struck oil just 70 miles to the south, launching the Permian Basin boom and recasting Midland as the nation’s energy frontier. Today, the city of about 143,000 has traded cattle trails for Fortune 500 balance sheets, yet it still keeps its pioneer hospitality and boundless skies—inviting new families and businesses to put down roots in a community built on ambition, innovation, and West Texas grit.
Midland isn’t just another dot on the map—it’s one of America’s fastest-growing, best-paying small metros, where career acceleration meets front-porch friendliness. Midland is growing because people are drawn to the city for many reasons- launching a career, an Executive on the rise, raising a family, or returning home after college, Midland offers the space—literally and figuratively—to grow.
Big skies. Bigger opportunities. A community that calls you by name.
Situated deep in West Texas’ Permian Basin, Midland sits almost exactly halfway between Fort Worth and El Paso on Interstate 20—hence the town’s original name, the “mid-land” stop on the Texas & Pacific Railroad when it was founded in 1881. That rail water-stop grew modestly until May 28, 1923, when the Santa Rita No. 1 well struck oil just 70 miles to the south, launching the Permian Basin boom and recasting Midland as the nation’s energy frontier. Today, the city of about 143,000 has traded cattle trails for Fortune 500 balance sheets, yet it still keeps its pioneer hospitality and boundless skies—inviting new families and businesses to put down roots in a community built on ambition, innovation, and West Texas grit.
Midland isn’t just another dot on the map—it’s one of America’s fastest-growing, best-paying small metros, where career acceleration meets front-porch friendliness. Midland is growing because people are drawn to the city for many reasons- launching a career, an Executive on the rise, raising a family, or returning home after college, Midland offers the space—literally and figuratively—to grow.
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Median household income (neilsberg.com)
Average one-way commute≈ (realestate.usnews.com) Typical home price (bestplaces.net) Cost-of-living rank (2024) (midlandtxedc.com)-- |
Midland
$91,169 (2023)
17 min $271 k (-20 % vs. U.S.) #3 in U.S. for high pay + low cost |
U.S. Avg.
$78,538
26 min $338 k |
Five reasons Professionals & Families are saying “Yes” to Midland
- Sky-high salaries & career velocity
Oil & gas may headline the economy, but energy tech, logistics, health-care and professional services also thrive here—pushing median pay 16 % above the U.S. norm. Promotions come fast in a market where companies scale quickly and talent is tight. - Instant community
From Friday-night lights to Saturday service projects, volunteerism is woven into the culture. Newcomers are welcomed onto boards, booster clubs, and neighborhood BBQs in weeks, not years. - High quality of life on a sensible budget
Enjoy downtown food halls, craft-coffee shops and concerts at Wagner Noël Performing Arts Center without big-city price tags. Spend Saturdays at the refurbished Dennis the Menace Park (splash pad, tree-house, ADA-play zones) or explore 31 other parks, hiking & bike trails. - Housing you can actually afford (and choose).
Buy: The typical Midland home sells for ≈ $300 K—about 25 % below the U.S. median—giving first-time buyers a real shot at ownership. redfin.com
Rent: Average apartment rents run ≈ $1,300/mo, 19 % lower than the national average, with everything from downtown lofts to family-friendly three-bedroom units. apartments.com
Pick your style: Historic bungalows near the arts district, master-planned communities with pools and playgrounds, acreage lots on the city’s edge—Midland’s housing stock spans every life stage and budget. - Less traffic, more life
With commutes under 20 minutes, evenings belong to soccer practice, backyard grilling or sunsets on the ranch—rather than bumper-to-bumper gridlock.
- 2025 Best-Performing Cities (Small Cities category ) #5 in the U.S.Milken Institute
- "Recognizes metros with the strongest job, wage & GDP growth and economic resilience."
- 2025 – 26 250 Best Places to Live in the U.S. #65 overall
- #18 medium-size city Measures value, desirability, job market and quality of life. U.S. News & World Report
- 2025Top 100 Best Places to Live On the list in Livability.com
- Uses 100 data points on economy, housing, amenities & safety.
- 2025Safest & Most Affordable Cities for Families #34 nationally in GO Banking Rates
- Combines income, home values, cost of living and crime rates.
- 2025 Most Affordable Cities in America #4 in The Motley Fool
- Highlights metros with high income-to-expense ratios and below-average costs.
- 2023 Fastest-Growing Mid-Size Economies #1 fastest-growing by the Kenan Institute — American Growth Project Projected 6.7 % GDP growth—top among 100 mid-size U.S. cities.
- 2024/25 Best Small Cities for Business #3 Chamber of Commerce.org
- Ranks small metros on taxes, real-estate costs, labor force & growth potential.
- 2022 Best Texas Cities to Work In #3 in Best Colleges
- Evaluates employment growth, salaries and career outlook across Texas metros.
- 2024 Fastest-Growing Cities in Texas #6 in Texas in Calilio Based on recent population growth data.
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Mackenzie Eason & Associates is a performance driven retained executive search firm, focused on delivering measurable results. We are boutique by design – allowing us to eliminate the conflict issues of larger firms and engage in a more collaborative search process. Our partners enter into engagements selectively, limiting the number of searches at any given time in order to maintain the highest level of accountability to each client. We employ a unique methodology, utilizing a highly customized and targeted approach to each search, and a follow through process that further ensures client satisfaction and increased placement success. We also know the importance of diversity to creating long-term strength for an organization, and at MEA, we are committed to delivering a more diverse range of candidates to reflect today’s increasingly inclusive workforce.
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Midland offers an inviting, opportunity‑rich
home under the wide‑open West Texas sky.