Andrews County runs on oil, grit, and wide-open horizons

Andrews County is home to approximately 63,400 residents concentrated primarily in the city of Andrews, with median home values around $170,500 making it one of the more affordable markets in the Permian Basin. The county economy runs on oil and gas extraction, which employs over 1,600 workers at average annual pay exceeding $108,000, alongside robust construction and transportation sectors supporting energy operations. The population skews younger than the state average with a median age of 32.7, reflecting the working-age families drawn to oilfield employment. Homeownership reaches 71 percent despite the transient nature of energy work, and the Hispanic population comprises over 61 percent of county residents.

Cities Compared

Andrews functions as the county's urban center with the full range of housing stock from historic neighborhoods to new construction, while McKinney Acres offers rural residential living on larger lots for those wanting distance from town density.

Demographics

The population is notably young with a median age under 33, heavily Hispanic at over 61 percent, and characterized by working-class households drawn to energy sector employment that doesn't require bachelor's degrees—only 13.4 percent of residents hold four-year degrees.

Economy

The employment landscape is dominated by mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction, which accounts for the highest-paid jobs in the county and drives demand across construction, transportation, and wholesale trade sectors. Nearly every major employer connects directly or indirectly to petroleum production, creating an economy that prospers during energy booms and contracts when prices fall.

Schools

School district data was not available for Andrews County, though the city of Andrews operates the primary district serving most county students in a consolidated system typical of rural Texas counties.

Cost of Living

Housing costs remain well below state averages with median home values around $170,500 and median rent just over $1,000 monthly, making Andrews County accessible for oilfield workers and service employees despite household incomes that track close to the Texas median at $62,310.

About Andrews County

Andrews County sits in the heart of West Texas oil country, roughly a hundred miles southwest of Lubbock and thirty miles from the New Mexico border. This is landscape shaped by petroleum geology and the relentless wind that sweeps across the Llano Estacado. The county was created in 1876 but remained so sparsely populated that it took until 1910 to organize a government, and even then the first settlers were ranchers drawn to the grasslands around Shafter Lake and the scattered playa basins that held precious water in this arid country.

The city of Andrews serves as county seat and commercial center, home to the vast majority of the county's population and the infrastructure that supports one of the most productive oil regions in North America. When Deep Rock Oil Company brought in the county discovery well in December 1929, everything changed. The Fuhrman-Mascho Field and later the massive Means Field transformed Andrews from a ranching outpost into an energy town, and the billionth barrel of crude came from county wells in 1965 after just thirty-five years of production.

Daily life here revolves around the oil patch. The drilling rigs and pump jacks that dot the horizon aren't backdrop but the economic engine that employs nearly two thousand people in extraction alone, with thousands more in the construction, transportation, and service work that supports those operations. This is a working landscape where fortunes rise and fall with commodity prices, where boom cycles bring new pickups and housing developments, and downturns send families to other fields.

The nearest true metro area is Midland-Odessa, about forty miles to the southeast, which provides the regional airport, shopping, and medical facilities that Andrews County lacks. Most residents make that drive regularly, treating the twin cities as their urban anchor while maintaining the slower pace and tighter community of a county where everyone knows the major employers and half the high school plays six-man football. The landscape between is pure Permian Basin: flat to gently rolling terrain broken by caliche outcrops, mesquite, and the geometric patterns of section roads laid out when this was still frontier.

Understanding Andrews and McKinney Acres

Andrews dominates the county both geographically and demographically, functioning as the hub for government, retail, and services across forty-two neighborhoods that range from older blocks near the historic downtown to newer subdivisions built during recent oil booms. The city grew up around the courthouse after county organization in 1910, but its real expansion came with petroleum development in the 1930s and subsequent waves of drilling activity. Today it's home to the grocery stores, medical clinics, schools, and restaurants that serve not just city residents but ranch families and oilfield workers from across the county.

McKinney Acres exists as a much smaller community with just three neighborhoods, representing the kind of unincorporated settlement common in rural Texas counties where people want land and lower density without city regulations. The contrast reflects a pattern across Andrews County: most residents cluster in town for convenience and services, while a smaller population spreads across the rural sections on larger lots or working ranches that predate the oil era and persist alongside it.

Identifiers

GEOID

48003

State FIPS

48

County FIPS

003

Statistics

Neighborhoods

76

Population

14,210

Geography

Type

polygon

Area

3,888 km²

Data Source

Primary Source

tiger

Census Reference

QuickFacts

Frequently Asked Questions About Andrews County

What is Andrews known for?

Andrews County is defined by petroleum production and the working-class communities built around it. This is West Texas oil country where the economy runs on what comes out of the ground, where drilling activity visible from every highway shapes employment patterns and tax revenues, and where boom-and-bust cycles are accepted facts of life rather than abstract economic concepts. The landscape is high desert plains broken by playa lakes and caliche outcrops, with Andrews serving as the population and commercial center while vast stretches of county land remain devoted to ranching or leased for mineral rights. The culture reflects both the ranching heritage that predates oil discovery and the transient nature of energy work that brings families from across Texas and beyond. This isn't a retirement destination or a bedroom community—it's a place people come to work hard, earn good wages without college degrees, and build equity during the prosperous years.

What is the cost of living in Andrews?

Andrews County offers housing affordability that's become rare in Texas energy regions, with median home values around $170,500 keeping ownership accessible even for single-income households in the trades. Median rent just over $1,000 monthly means renters aren't priced out despite the influx of workers during active drilling periods. The cost advantage comes with tradeoffs—limited shopping and dining options mean residents drive to Midland-Odessa for variety, healthcare choices are constrained, and entertainment largely consists of high school sports and outdoor recreation. Grocery and gas prices track regional averages without the premium seen in larger Permian Basin cities. The homeownership rate above 71 percent reflects both affordability and the cultural preference for owning property even among workers who might relocate when their company moves to another field. Property tax data wasn't available, but energy-rich counties typically generate substantial revenue from mineral valuations, potentially easing the residential burden.

How are the schools in Andrews?

Detailed school performance data wasn't available for Andrews County, but the consolidated district model common in rural Texas means most students attend Andrews ISD facilities regardless of where in the county they live. Small-town districts typically offer tighter communities and more opportunities for student involvement—every kid who wants to play sports or join band gets a spot—but fewer AP courses and extracurricular options than suburban systems. The low percentage of bachelor's degree holders in the county reflects both the economic reality that oilfield jobs pay well without requiring college and the limited emphasis on college preparation in communities where skilled trades and technical work dominate. Families prioritizing academic competition and diverse programming often choose to live in Midland despite the commute, while those valuing small class sizes and Friday night football culture find Andrews schools perfectly suited to their needs.

What is the nearest city or metro area?

Midland-Odessa sits roughly forty miles southeast and functions as the regional metro for Andrews County residents who need services beyond what a town of this size can support. That twin-city area provides the airport for business travel and family trips, the hospital systems for specialized care, the big-box retail and chain restaurants that don't exist in Andrews, and the junior college for students not leaving the region. The drive is manageable enough that many Andrews families shop in Midland weekly and think nothing of the round trip for a doctor's appointment or evening out. Lubbock lies about a hundred miles northeast and serves as an alternative metro, particularly for Texas Tech sports fans and families with students at the university. The proximity to New Mexico—Hobbs is just thirty miles west—also factors into the regional geography, with some residents crossing state lines for certain shopping or services. This distance from major population centers is part of Andrews County's identity: far enough to maintain distinct small-town character, close enough to access urban amenities when needed.

Find Your Place in Andrews County's Energy Corridor

Whether you're relocating for oilfield work or looking for affordable West Texas living with big skies and small-town pace, Andrews County offers opportunities that larger markets can't match. Connect with a Texas Ally advisor who understands Permian Basin communities and can guide you to the right neighborhood for your budget and lifestyle.