Neighborhood in Midland, Midland County
Living in Thunderbird Heights, Midland
50th of 76areas in Midland
Overall score 37 of 100 vs Texas neighborhoods
Midland overall: C
Thunderbird Heights is a neighborhood in Midland, TX, home to about 1,800 people. It gets a C-, just below the middle of Texas neighborhoods, and ranks 50th of 76 areas we score in Midland. It does best on errands and things to do and worst on internet access.
- Errands close by
- Short commutes
- Lots of parks
- Schools scores low (13 of 100)
- Internet access scores low (0 of 100)
Closest everyday places
| Grocery store | 0.4 mi |
| Pharmacy | 0.4 mi |
| Park | under 0.1 mi |
| Cafe | 0.2 mi |
| Restaurant | 0.2 mi |
| Gym | 0.2 mi |
| Hospital or urgent care | 1.9 mi |
| Childcare | 0.2 mi |
| Library | 0.7 mi |
Straight-line distance from the middle of where people live. Overture Maps.
- Population
- 1,840
- Median rent
- $1,390
- Median home value
- $408,000
- Household income
- $98,800
- Average commute
- 15 min
- Homes owned
- 44%
What it's like to live in Thunderbird Heights
Thunderbird Heights is a neighborhood in Midland with about 1,800 residents, mostly newer homes (median year built 2002), a mix of owners and renters and 33% of households with children.
It grades C- against every neighborhood in Texas and ranks 50th of 76 areas in Midland, which grades C overall.
Pros of living in Thunderbird Heights
- Groceries close by. The nearest grocery store is about 0.4 miles from the middle of the neighborhood.
- Parks within walking distance. The closest park is about under 0.1 miles away.
Cons of living in Thunderbird Heights
- Higher poverty. 38% of residents live below the poverty line, against 12% across Midland.
- Lower-rated schools nearby. Only 0 of the 3 closest public schools are rated A or B.
- Natural hazard risk. FEMA rates the risk of river flooding, tornadoes and hail as very high in this part of town.
Thunderbird Heights report card
Each grade compares Thunderbird Heights with every neighborhood in Texas. Safety is not graded for single neighborhoods because police report crime for the whole city.
Cost of living: grade C
Median rent $1,390, homes cost 4.1x income.
43 of 100 vs TX areasJobs and income: grade C
Median household income $98,800, 1.5% unemployed.
45 of 100 vs TX areasSchools: grade D-
Nearby schools average 71 of 100 on the state rating.
13 of 100 vs TX areasSafety: no grade
Citywide, 352 violent crimes per 100k, 1,631 property crimes per 100k.
No score vs TX areasErrands and things to do: grade A
Most everyday stores and services within a mile of homes.
92 of 100 vs TX areasGetting around: grade B
Average commute 15 min, 9.8% work from home.
67 of 100 vs TX areasEducation levels: grade D+
12% have a bachelor’s degree.
25 of 100 vs TX areasHealth: grade C-
14% of adults uninsured.
38 of 100 vs TX areasHome ownership: grade D+
44% of homes owner-occupied.
27 of 100 vs TX areasInternet access: grade F
45% of homes have broadband.
0 of 100 vs TX areas
Thunderbird Heights compared with Midland
Better than Midland
- Average commute: 15 min26% lower than Midland (20 min)
- Adults 18 to 64 without health insurance: 14%5 points lower than Midland (20%)
- Median household income: $98,80010% higher than Midland ($89,585)
Worse than Midland
- Homes with broadband internet: 45%48 points lower than Midland (93%)
- People below the poverty line: 38%26 points higher than Midland (12%)
- Adults with a bachelor's degree or higher: 12%22 points lower than Midland (34%)
Closest public schools
Texas Education Agency 2025 ratings. Check the attendance zone for any address with the district.
- CMilam ElementaryElementary, Midland ISD0.6 mi
- DLegacy Freshman High SchoolMiddle, Midland ISD1.2 mi
- CMidland High SchoolHigh, Midland ISD1.6 mi
Cost of living in Thunderbird Heights
Median rent in Thunderbird Heights is $1,390 a month, about the same as the Midland median. A household would need about $56,000 a year to keep that rent at 30% of income.
The median home is worth $408,000, 28% higher than the Midland median, which means a monthly payment of about $2,666 with property tax at today's mortgage rates.
| Measure | Here | Midland | Texas |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent3% lower than Midland | $1,390 | $1,434 | $1,403 |
| Median home value28% higher than Midland | $408,000 | $319,200 | $283,800 |
| Home value to income16% higher than Midland | 4.1x | 3.6x | 3.6x |
| Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent4 points lower than Midland | 49% | 53% | 52% |
| Homes owned by the people living in them21 points lower than Midland | 44% | 65% | 63% |
| Vacant homesAbout the same as Midland | 6.8% | 6.7% | 9.4% |
| Median year homes were builtAbout the same as Midland | 2002 | 1989 | 1992 |
Monthly cost to buy a median home
- Mortgage payment
- $2,233
- Property tax
- $433
- Median rent, for comparison
- $1,390
Based on a $408,000 home in Thunderbird Heights, 20% down and a 30-year loan at 7.28% (Freddie Mac average, week of 2026-10-01). Property tax is the median for the surrounding Census tract, or the county where that is not published. Insurance and fees are not included.
Work, income and getting around
| Measure | Here | Midland | Texas |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income10% higher than Midland | $98,800 | $89,585 | $78,476 |
| Unemployment rate2 points lower than Midland | 1.5% | 3.5% | 5.3% |
| People below the poverty line26 points higher than Midland | 38% | 12% | 14% |
| Adults with a bachelor's degree or higher22 points lower than Midland | 12% | 34% | 34% |
| Average commute26% lower than Midland | 15 min | 20 min | 27 min |
| Workers who work from home4 points higher than Midland | 9.8% | 6.2% | 14% |
| Workers who walk, bike or take transit1 points lower than Midland | 0% | 1.4% | 2.6% |
| Homes with broadband internet48 points lower than Midland | 45% | 93% | 91% |
Natural hazard risk
FEMA National Risk Index for the Census tracts in this area.
- River floodingVery high
- HurricanesLow
- TornadoesVery high
- HailVery high
- Heat wavesLow
- WildfiresHigh
- Winter stormsVery high
- Strong windHigh
Who lives in Thunderbird Heights
Race and ethnicity
Shown for information only. It is never part of any grade.
Other neighborhoods in Midland
- 1A+GrafalandMedian rent $1,250
- 2A+Grandridge Park
- 3AKimber-Lea
- 4ATrinity
- 5ARanchland HeightsMedian rent $1,090
- 6ACountry Sky
- 7APlantation HillsMedian rent $1,400
- 8APark PlaceMedian rent $2,380
Similar neighborhoods in other cities
Areas elsewhere in Texas with the closest mix of grades.
- DEastwoodHouston
- D+Pleasant HillAustin
- D-HemisfairSan Antonio
Questions about Thunderbird Heights
Is Thunderbird Heights a good place to live?
Thunderbird Heights is a neighborhood in Midland, TX, home to about 1,800 people. It gets a C-, just below the middle of Texas neighborhoods, and ranks 50th of 76 areas we score in Midland. It does best on errands and things to do and worst on internet access.
How much does it cost to live in Thunderbird Heights?
Median rent in Thunderbird Heights is $1,390 a month, 3% lower than the Midland median. The median home is worth $408,000, 28% higher than the Midland median. A median home costs 4.1x the median household income, compared with 3.6x across Midland.
What schools serve Thunderbird Heights?
The closest rated public schools are Milam Elementary (elementary, rated C), Legacy Freshman High School (middle, rated D) and Midland High School (high, rated C). School zones can differ from the closest school, so check with the district.
This area is built from 1 Census block group closest to the Thunderbird Heights name on the map, so its edges are approximate. Sources: US Census Bureau 2020-2024 ACS 5-year, CDC PLACES 2025, Texas Education Agency, FEMA National Risk Index, Overture Maps. How we grade.