Midland County ranks among top 10 best places in nation for new families
(July 1, 2025)
MIDLAND, TEXAS -- Midland County ranked ninth in the nation for “Best Places for New Families,” according to a study released last week by SmartAsset.
Counties are ranked based on five factors including childcare and housing affordability, the relative population of children under 10, and access to parks and doctors.
Fairfax County, Virginia; Wake County, North Carolina; and Carver County, Virginia, comprised the top three. Ector County (Odessa) and Midland were the top-ranked Texas counties, ranking eighth and ninth, respectively.
The online financial advisor stated in the report that data for 830 U.S. Counties comes from County Health Rankings and Roadmap (2025) and U.S. Census Bureau (2023).
Midland’s best rankings fell under population under 10 (where it showed the eighth largest percentage, 16.19%) and childcare relative to median income (where it ranked ninth).
Ector County posted the third largest population under 10 (17.44%).
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Online: smartasset.com/data-studies/best-places-new-families-2025
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About Midland County
- Childcare costs as a percent of median household income: 17.16%
- Median monthly housing costs: $1,395
- Percentage of population under age 10: 16.19%
- Number of children under age 10: 28,669
- Ratio of total population to primary care physicians: 2,625
- Population living within a half mile of a park: 51.91%
- Housing costs as a percentage of median household income: 17.95%
About Ector County
- Childcare costs as a percent of median household income: 24.24%
- Median monthly housing costs: $1,068
- Percentage of population under age 10: 17.44%
- Number of children under age 10: 28,690
- Ratio of total population to primary care physicians: 1,751
- Population living within a half mile of a park: 52.23%
- Housing costs as a percentage of median household income: 19.24%
Source: smartasset.com/data-studies/best-places-new-families-2025