Neighborhood in Odessa, Ector County

Living in Idlewild, Odessa

A-

3rd of 66areas in Odessa
Overall score 85 of 100 vs Texas neighborhoods
Odessa overall: D+

Idlewild is a neighborhood in Odessa, TX, home to about 800 people. It gets an A-, in the top 20% of Texas neighborhoods, and ranks 3rd of 66 areas we score in Odessa. It does best on cost of living and worst on schools.

  • Well connected
  • Lots of parks
  • Schools scores low (17 of 100)
  • Hail risk is very high

Closest everyday places

Grocery store0.9 mi
Pharmacy0.4 mi
Park0.6 mi
Cafe1.1 mi
Restaurant0.3 mi
Gym0.4 mi
Hospital or urgent care0.5 mi
Childcare0.5 mi
Library1.1 mi

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

Population
800
Median rent
No data
Median home value
$310,000
Household income
$173,900
Average commute
26 min
Homes owned
100%
Loading map

What it's like to live in Idlewild

Idlewild is a neighborhood in Odessa with about 800 residents, older homes (median year built 1957), mostly owner-occupied (100%) and 59% of households with children.

It grades A- against every neighborhood in Texas and ranks 3rd of 66 areas in Odessa, which grades D+ overall.

Pros of living in Idlewild

  • Higher incomes. The median household earns $173,900, 137% higher than the Odessa median.

Cons of living in Idlewild

  • 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 hail, winter storms and strong wind as very high in this part of town.

Idlewild report card

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

  • Cost of living: grade A+

    Homes cost 1.8x income.

    99 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Jobs and income: grade A-

    Median household income $173,900, 6.7% unemployed.

    82 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Schools: grade D

    Nearby schools average 72 of 100 on the state rating.

    17 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Safety: no grade

    Citywide, 286 violent crimes per 100k, 1,159 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.

    50 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Getting around: grade B+

    Average commute 26 min, 0% work from home.

    75 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Education levels: grade C-

    31% have a bachelor’s degree.

    36 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Health: grade D+

    20% of adults uninsured.

    26 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Home ownership: grade A-

    100% of homes owner-occupied.

    81 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Internet access: grade A

    100% of homes have broadband.

    91 of 100 vs TX areas

Idlewild compared with Odessa

Better than Odessa

  • Median household income: $173,900137% higher than Odessa ($73,472)
  • Homes owned by the people living in them: 100%40 points higher than Odessa (60%)
  • Home value to income: 1.8x41% lower than Odessa (3.0x)

Worse than Odessa

  • Average commute: 26 min15% higher than Odessa (22 min)
  • Vacant homes: 7.8%1 points higher than Odessa (6.4%)

Closest public schools

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

  • DGonzales ElementaryElementary, Ector County ISD0.4 mi
  • CBonham MiddleMiddle, Ector County ISD0.8 mi
  • CPermian High SchoolHigh, Ector County ISD1.4 mi

Cost of living in Idlewild

The median home is worth $310,000, 39% higher than the Odessa median, which means a monthly payment of about $1,981 with property tax at today's mortgage rates.

MeasureHereOdessaTexas
Median home value39% higher than Odessa$310,000$223,100$283,800
Home value to income41% lower than Odessa1.8x3.0x3.6x
Homes owned by the people living in them40 points higher than Odessa100%60%63%
Vacant homes1 points higher than Odessa7.8%6.4%9.4%
Median year homes were builtAbout the same as Odessa195719801992

Monthly cost to buy a median home

$1,981
Mortgage payment
$1,697
Property tax
$284

Based on a $310,000 home in Idlewild, 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

MeasureHereOdessaTexas
Median household income137% higher than Odessa$173,900$73,472$78,476
Unemployment rateAbout the same as Odessa6.7%5.9%5.3%
People below the poverty line15 points lower than Odessa0.9%16%14%
Adults with a bachelor's degree or higher12 points higher than Odessa31%19%34%
Average commute15% higher than Odessa26 min22 min27 min
Workers who work from home3 points lower than Odessa0%3.4%14%
Workers who walk, bike or take transit6 points higher than Odessa7.2%1.1%2.6%
Homes with broadband internet11 points higher than Odessa100%89%91%

Natural hazard risk

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

  • River floodingLow
  • HurricanesLow
  • TornadoesHigh
  • HailVery high
  • Heat wavesHigh
  • WildfiresModerate
  • Winter stormsVery high
  • Strong windVery high

Who lives in Idlewild

Under 1839%
18 to 3412%
35 to 6444%
65 and over4.6%
Race and ethnicity
White49%
Hispanic or Latino50%
Black0.9%
Asian0%
Other or more than one race0%

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

Other neighborhoods in Odessa

  1. 1ACountry Club EstatesMedian rent $1,260
  2. 2AEast Pointe
  3. 4A-Emerald Forest GardensMedian rent $1,260
  4. 5A-Parker Place
  5. 6A-Fellowship AdditionMedian rent $1,410
  6. 7B+Clyde A Pool 2 Acre TractsMedian rent $1,070
  7. 8B+CyncoMedian rent $1,640
  8. 9B+LakesideMedian rent $1,030

Similar neighborhoods in other cities

Areas elsewhere in Texas with the closest mix of grades.

  1. AWest Harker HeightsHarker Heights
  2. B-BriarwoodWest Odessa
  3. A-Southeast EdinburgEdinburg

Questions about Idlewild

Is Idlewild a good place to live?

Idlewild is a neighborhood in Odessa, TX, home to about 800 people. It gets an A-, in the top 20% of Texas neighborhoods, and ranks 3rd of 66 areas we score in Odessa. It does best on cost of living and worst on schools.

How much does it cost to live in Idlewild?

The median home is worth $310,000, 39% higher than the Odessa median. A median home costs 1.8x the median household income, compared with 3.0x across Odessa.

What schools serve Idlewild?

The closest rated public schools are Gonzales Elementary (elementary, rated D), Bonham Middle (middle, rated C) and Permian 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 Idlewild 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.