Midland Vs. Wichita Falls

[starfields]

I'd choose Midland over Wichita Falls in a heartbeat.

Midland is more prosperous and has a more educated population:

http://www.ersys.com/usa/48/4848072/income.htm

http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/48/4879000.html



I can't discern what kind of schools you are wanting, but Midland has fine public and private schools. I think there are 5 or 6 country clubs. There is even a polo club. If you like organic/ health foods, Midland has a very nice health food store and cafe [Natural Foods Market, Strawberry Fields Cafe--no, I have no financial interest in either. Think mini Whole Foods Market]. Does Wichita Falls have a natural foods restaurant?

Also, Midland is booming. I see Wichita Falls appears to be losing population.

[Lucidus]

I want Midland to get a fair shake here so...

Midland is actually a clean city on the northwest side. Like any city Midland has its dirtier areas. But Midland has a twin, Odessa, which is the blue collar and therefore genarally dirtier city. Midland is not in the desert. It is actually grassland steppe but yeah its ugly, if you want natural beauty this is not the place for you. But the upside of a dry climate is 300+ days a year of sunshine. Even though we have had our coldest winter in 20 years this year.

The best thing about Midland right now is the booming economy. Midland lives and dies on the price of oil, but the bust are not as bad as most people believe. In fact in the last bust of the late 1990's Midland still managed to grow well. Because of the robust economy many new stores are coming to the area. Commercial development along loop 250 has just exploded and a new highway is now being added to the west which have similar potential.

If you are interested in urban living, then Midland is the better choice also. Midland has a great skyline even if it has seen better days. Midland is a white collar city with more office space than Alberquerque and El Paso, cities five times its size. At least 3 of the office buildings downtown are being converted into condo projects.

Some people say that there is nothing to do here. But those people are just lazy. I have recently been taking advantage of more of the entertainment in the area and I almost never feel like there is nothing to do. Midland/Odessa is very isolated but because of this the area is developing many of the amenities of cities that are larger. Midland/Odessa has a number of minor legue sports teams including professional hockey and ice skating is available year round. I recently spent an evening watching a high school hockey game. It was fun and the professional hockey team played with Odessa high school jerseys, I thought that was a nice gesture. Both cities have theatres and in fact the one in Odessa is one of only two authenic replicas of the globe. Also new performing arts center is being built in the mid-cities area to serve both Midland and Odessa.

As for diversity I think Midland may be better but I am not sure. The oil and petrochemical industries attract workers from all over the world. When I worked in petrochemical plant here many of the chemist were from India and China. Odessa has a nicely developing medical district downtown that also host a number of foriegn born doctors. One of these doctors is know nationally for a new type of heart surgery that he invented. Also every two years Odessa host the international oil show. During the show it is not uncommon to see people from all over the world in town, especially from the oil producing countries of the middle east and Russia.

Midland has probably the nicest airport around. It is a new international airport. I travel around the U.S. on business several times a year and I love this airport. It is clean and even with post 9/11 security you still don't have to arrive at the airport until about 10 minutes before your flight leaves. This airport is also home to The Commemerative Air Force that puts on a great air show every year. This show typically attracts veterans from all over the U.S. and the globe, including many European and Japanese pilots.

One downside though, is that even though real estate is cheap is not abundant. The recent growth in the economy has caused a housing shortage but many new subdivisions are being built so hopefully that won't be a problem.

I moved to Midland/Odessa from San Angelo in 1996 and you couldn't blast me out here with artillery. I love this city and am admitedly fairly biased.