Why is Odessa a lot cheaper than Midland? (Dallas, San Antonio: rent, crime rate)

[tcualum]

I heard on the radio yesterday during morning drive time (ie not cheap) an ad trying to recruit middle school teachers to teach in Odessa. They were offering a 10K signing bonus and $75,000 salary.

[supfromthesite]

Doesn't surprise me.

I can't imagine who would do it unless they are from the area, have land out there, or their spouse works in oil and gas.

I guess they could go on an airplane every weekend?

[Rogarven]

I have a former student who bought a trailer and works as a rough neck for a couple weeks straight then has a couple weeks off to come back to El Paso. At first , he had an apartment but then decided to get the trailer. He is a single dad and has made lots of money for a HS graduate. Bought new trucks, Corvette and the nice trailer. His daughters are with the ex wife and his folks live here. I have warned him to save some of that money !!

[LocalPlanner]

Originally Posted by Rogarven

I have a former student who bought a trailer and works as a rough neck for a couple weeks straight then has a couple weeks off to come back to El Paso. At first , he had an apartment but then decided to get the trailer. He is a single dad and has made lots of money for a HS graduate. Bought new trucks, Corvette and the nice trailer. His daughters are with the ex wife and his folks live here. I have warned him to save some of that money !!

I've met other guys who have a similar setup. Go there, live in an RV/trailer/automobile/whatever, make a bunch of $, save it, then quit that job and go back to their hometown where they can buy a home and new vehicle.

[doolish1]

You'd think the companies themselves would invest in the area to make it attractive to keep workers.

[LocalPlanner]

Originally Posted by doolish1

You'd think the companies themselves would invest in the area to make it attractive to keep workers.

Well, their employment is so boom-and-bust, they're not willing to do such investments because they fear it will be for nought. Plus, the area has never tried to make them do this - they pretty much feel totally beholden to the oil and oil field service companies.

[ChristieP]

Originally Posted by LocalPlanner

Well, their employment is so boom-and-bust, they're not willing to do such investments because they fear it will be for nought. Plus, the area has never tried to make them do this - they pretty much feel totally beholden to the oil and oil field service companies.

Literally, so few of the people who live there care about those things that the city doesn't even bother.

[supfromthesite]

I think it would be a pointless endeavor sadly. There is nothing special about the area to keep people there or attract people, other than high paying energy jobs.

Even people with land out there often don't bother staying.

It is essentially living in the desert without any of the redeeming qualities that you might find in other similar areas.

[LocalPlanner]

Originally Posted by supfromthesite

I think it would be a pointless endeavor sadly. There is nothing special about the area to keep people there or attract people, other than high paying energy jobs.

Even people with land out there often don't bother staying.

It is essentially living in the desert without any of the redeeming qualities that you might find in other similar areas.

Well, if they had tried to create a nicer community, they'd have better odds of retaining people, if even there's a lot of other factors working against them.

[LocalPlanner]

Originally Posted by ChristieP

Literally, so few of the people who live there care about those things that the city doesn't even bother.

I guess over time the people who do care about community amenities filter away, leaving the folks who just care about having a nice pickup and a good deer lease.