Neighborhood in Midland, Midland County

Living in Western Hills, Midland

D-

68th of 76areas in Midland
Overall score 15 of 100 vs Texas neighborhoods
Midland overall: C

Western Hills is a neighborhood in Midland, TX, home to about 1,700 people. It gets a D-, in the bottom 16% of Texas neighborhoods, and ranks 68th of 76 areas we score in Midland. It does best on home ownership and worst on internet access.

  • Pricey
  • Lots of parks
  • Cost of living scores low (18 of 100)
  • Schools scores low (13 of 100)

Closest everyday places

Grocery store0.7 mi
Pharmacy1.7 mi
Park0.3 mi
Cafe0.7 mi
Restaurant0.7 mi
Gym0.8 mi
Hospital or urgent care1.3 mi
Childcare1.0 mi
Library1.9 mi

Straight-line distance from the middle of where people live. Overture Maps.

Population
1,710
Median rent
$1,800
Median home value
$219,000
Household income
$65,200
Average commute
23 min
Homes owned
70%
Loading map

What it's like to live in Western Hills

Western Hills is a neighborhood in Midland with about 1,700 residents, homes built around 1970, mostly owner-occupied (70%) and 39% of households with children.

Our grade for Western Hills is D-. That puts it 68th of 76 areas we grade in Midland, a city that gets a C overall.

Pros of living in Western Hills

  • Parks within walking distance. The closest park is about 0.3 miles away.

Cons of living in Western Hills

  • Pricier rent than the city. Median rent is $1,800, 26% higher than the Midland median.
  • 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 tornadoes, hail and wildfires as very high in this part of town.

Western Hills report card

Each grade compares Western Hills with every neighborhood in Texas. Safety is not graded for single neighborhoods because police report crime for the whole city.

  • Cost of living: grade D

    Median rent $1,800, homes cost 3.4x income.

    18 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Jobs and income: grade B+

    Median household income $65,200, 0% unemployed.

    75 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Schools: grade D-

    Nearby schools average 71 of 100 on the state rating.

    13 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Safety: no grade

    Citywide, 352 violent crimes per 100k, 1,631 property crimes per 100k.

    No score vs TX areas

  • Errands and things to do: grade C

    Most everyday stores and services within a mile of homes.

    45 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Getting around: grade C-

    Average commute 23 min, 5.8% work from home.

    34 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Education levels: grade D

    7.2% have a bachelor’s degree.

    18 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Health: grade D

    22% of adults uninsured.

    23 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Home ownership: grade B+

    70% of homes owner-occupied.

    75 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Internet access: grade F

    70% of homes have broadband.

    5 of 100 vs TX areas

Western Hills compared with Midland

Better than Midland

  • People below the poverty line: 3.6%9 points lower than Midland (12%)
  • Vacant homes: 0%7 points lower than Midland (6.7%)
  • Homes owned by the people living in them: 70%5 points higher than Midland (65%)

Worse than Midland

  • Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent: 100%47 points higher than Midland (53%)
  • Adults with a bachelor's degree or higher: 7.2%27 points lower than Midland (34%)
  • Homes with broadband internet: 70%23 points lower than Midland (93%)

Closest public schools

Texas Education Agency 2025 ratings. Check the attendance zone for any address with the district.

  • CHenderson ElementaryElementary, Midland ISD0.4 mi
  • DAlamo Junior HighMiddle, Midland ISD1.2 mi
  • CLegacy High SchoolHigh, Midland ISD2.5 mi

Cost of living in Western Hills

Median rent in Western Hills is $1,800 a month, 26% higher than the Midland median. A household would need about $72,000 a year to keep that rent at 30% of income.

The median home is worth $219,000, 31% lower than the Midland median, which means a monthly payment of about $1,460 with property tax at today's mortgage rates.

MeasureHereMidlandTexas
Median rent26% higher than Midland$1,800$1,434$1,403
Median home value31% lower than Midland$219,000$319,200$283,800
Home value to income6% lower than Midland3.4x3.6x3.6x
Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent47 points higher than Midland100%53%52%
Homes owned by the people living in them5 points higher than Midland70%65%63%
Vacant homes7 points lower than Midland0%6.7%9.4%
Median year homes were builtAbout the same as Midland197019891992

Monthly cost to buy a median home

$1,460
Mortgage payment
$1,199
Property tax
$262
Median rent, for comparison
$1,800

Based on a $219,000 home in Western Hills, 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

MeasureHereMidlandTexas
Median household income27% lower than Midland$65,200$89,585$78,476
Unemployment rate4 points lower than Midland0%3.5%5.3%
People below the poverty line9 points lower than Midland3.6%12%14%
Adults with a bachelor's degree or higher27 points lower than Midland7.2%34%34%
Average commute13% higher than Midland23 min20 min27 min
Workers who work from homeAbout the same as Midland5.8%6.2%14%
Workers who walk, bike or take transit1 points lower than Midland0%1.4%2.6%
Homes with broadband internet23 points lower than Midland70%93%91%

Natural hazard risk

FEMA National Risk Index for the Census tracts in this area.

  • River floodingLow
  • HurricanesLow
  • TornadoesVery high
  • HailVery high
  • Heat wavesModerate
  • WildfiresVery high
  • Winter stormsVery high
  • Strong windModerate

Who lives in Western Hills

Under 1849%
18 to 348.0%
35 to 6433%
65 and over9.9%
Race and ethnicity
White12%
Hispanic or Latino48%
Black39%
Asian0.1%
Other or more than one race1.0%

Shown for information only. It is never part of any grade.

Other neighborhoods in Midland

  1. 1A+GrafalandMedian rent $1,250
  2. 2A+Grandridge Park
  3. 3AKimber-Lea
  4. 4ATrinity
  5. 5ARanchland HeightsMedian rent $1,090
  6. 6ACountry Sky
  7. 7APlantation HillsMedian rent $1,400
  8. 8APark PlaceMedian rent $2,380

Similar neighborhoods in other cities

Areas elsewhere in Texas with the closest mix of grades.

  1. FLakewood HeightsHouston
  2. DMcKinneyAustin
  3. D-Garden City ParkHouston

Questions about Western Hills

Is Western Hills a good place to live?

Western Hills is a neighborhood in Midland, TX, home to about 1,700 people. It gets a D-, in the bottom 16% of Texas neighborhoods, and ranks 68th of 76 areas we score in Midland. It does best on home ownership and worst on internet access.

How much does it cost to live in Western Hills?

Renters in Western Hills pay a median of $1,800 a month, 26% higher than the Midland median. The median home is worth $219,000, 31% lower than the Midland median. A median home costs 3.4x the median household income, compared with 3.6x across Midland.

What schools serve Western Hills?

The closest rated public schools are Henderson Elementary (elementary, rated C), Alamo Junior High (middle, rated D) and Legacy 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 Western Hills 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.