The 8 Best Places to Live in West Texas – 2025 Update
West Texas is the ultimate frontier for easy living. So, we found the best places to live in West Texas that offer the best balance of life.
It is easy to be lured into the expansive plains of West Texas. Here, you can find affordable cities with plenty of things to do, all while experiencing natural beauty all around you.
Therefore, we looked through all the data and listened to what locals had to say about each city in the western part of the Lone Star State to determine the best cities to live in West Texas.
We also made sure to find places that were suitable for every member of society, from young professionals, to families, and for retirees as well.
There are a lot of suitable places to live out there, but we narrowed down our list to the top 8 places so that you can understand where you may want to move to next within West Texas.
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Best Places to Live in West Texas – How We Chose Our List
Before we dive into our methodology, let’s first define which part of Texas is considered “West Texas.” The midpoint of Texas is loosely agreed to be the vertical line that would go from Wichita Falls to Del Rio. The area to the left of the line is then considered to be West Texas.
If you look at a map of Texas on Google Maps, West Texas is basically all the land in Texas that transitions from the green to the beige color in the left side of the state, which signifies the arid desert lands of the west.
To determine which cities were the best in this area, we looked through all the official data and statistics about each city, which includes:
- Cost of living
- Housing options
- Crime rates
- Entertainments and amenities
- School system
- Overall livability
We added up the scores from each category to arrive at our final 8 best cities to live in West Texas.
Of course, there are many other great cities that we were not able to fit on this list, but we think that the ones we’ve chosen are truly at the top of their class.
So, let’s take a look and see what the best places to live in West Texas are.
The 8 Best Places to Live in West Texas
8. Lubbock
Population: 258,870
Cost of Living Index: 4% Below Texas Average
Median Home Price: $190,000
Location: Check on Google Maps
Lubbock starts off our list of the best cities to live in West Texas. It is the 11th largest city in all of Texas and is located between Amarillo and Midland.
It is known as the “Hub City” due to its strong economy, focus on education, and large healthcare industry.
Lubbock is also home to Texas Tech University, which gives the city a vibrant collegetown energy.
It’s also pretty cheap to live there, as homes can still be found for under $200,000, according to Zillow.
7. Del Rio
Population: 35,760
Cost of Living Index: 10% Below Texas Average
Median Home Price: $150,000
Location: Check on Google Maps
Del Rio is one of the best cities in West Texas for people looking to just slow down and live a relaxed pace of life.
It is a small town with a historic downtown area, several commercial districts, and many quiet residential neighborhoods.
It is also located on the border with Mexico and the Rio Grande.
6. Midland
Population: 176,832
Cost of Living Index: 12% Above Texas Average
Median Home Price: $272,000
Location: Check on Google Maps
Midland is one of the fastest growing cities in West Texas, as it offers one of the strongest job markets in the region along with many things to do around the city, such as the children’s museum and the planetarium.
Midland has strong future prospects as well, since 15% of the US’ crude oil is produced in the Midland Basin.
Meanwhile, the city is known to be a safe place, especially for families. Residents take pride in their community here, as witnessed by the declining crime rate in Midland over eight out of the last nine years.
5. Amarillo
Population: 199,371
Cost of Living Index: 9% Below Texas Average
Median Home Price: $178,000
Location: Check on Google Maps
Amarillo is located in the northwestern part of the state and is surrounded by stunning landscapes and offers a well-rounded way of life.
Residents here can visit the majestic Palo Duro Canyon State Park in just 30 minutes from downtown and hike around the 2nd largest canyon in the nation.
Meanwhile, the city itself offers a diverse range of restaurants that you probably wouldn’t expect to find in this part of the state.
4. San Angelo
Population: 101,004
Cost of Living Index: 6% Below Texas Average
Median Home Price: $172,000
Location: Check on Google Maps
San Angelo is one of the best places to live in West Texas for those looking for an affordable, yet lively city that offers a diverse selection of things to do.
The city is also great for outdoor lovers as it is located right on the banks of the Concho River that flows through the center of town. San Angelo also features three lakes, the Twin Buttes Reservoir, O.C. Fisher Reservoir, and Lake Nasworthy.
Angelo State University is also located in the heart of the city, which gives the community a nice, youthful energy.
Best of all, San Angelo never feels very big and there is almost never any traffic on its roads.
3. Andrews
Population: 14,109
Cost of Living Index: 1% Below Texas Average
Median Home Price: $206,000
Location: Check on Google Maps
We think Andrews, Texas is one of the top cities in the region due to its close-knit community and safety.
Most people who relocate to Andrews speak positively about how nice and friendly everyone is around town.
Meanwhile, the crime rate here is about 20% lower than the Texas state average, making it a solid choice for families as well.
While it may be a small city, Andrews is only about 45 minutes away from Midland and Odessa, so residents here can take advantage of the job opportunities in its neighboring cities, too.
2. Abilene
Population: 123,420
Cost of Living Index: 8% Below Texas Average
Median Home Price: $172,000
Location: Check on Google Maps
Abilene is a city that is located about 2.5 hours west of Dallas and features a quaint and historic downtown as well as a whole host of things to do that the whole family can enjoy.
It is also one of the best places to live in West Texas (and even the nation) for those looking to buy a house.
Additionally, Abilene is focused on providing a great education, as its public school system is often ranked as one of the best in Texas. It is also home to six colleges and universities, including Abilene Christian University and McMurry University.
1. El Paso
Population: 678,815
Cost of Living Index: 1% Below Texas Average
Median Home Price: $180,000
Location: Check on Google Maps
El Paso tops our list as the best place to live in West Texas. It earns this distinction by offering an excellent blend of affordability, safety, and things to do.
El Paso even made our list of the best cities in all of Texas.
It is located right on the Rio Grande and is the westernmost big city in Texas, sharing a border with both Mexico and New Mexico.
Living in El Paso is easy for everyone, as the average home price is roughly $180,000. Meanwhile, crime rates are about 40% lower than the state average.
This historic city also offers many attractions and entertainment, such as its walkable Downtown El Paso and the El Paso Museum Of Art.
Best Places to Live in West Texas – Summary
To recap our list of the best cities in West Texas, they are:
- El Paso
- Abilene
- Andrews
- San Angelo
- Amarillo
- Midland
- Del Rio
- Lubbock
We think that they all offer a balanced lifestyle and good opportunities for virtually all ages.
If you are thinking about moving to West Texas, be sure to check out all of these places so that you can start your new life in the adventurous frontier of the west.
