In the midst of the Chihuahuan Desert, West Texas has plenty to offer someone who appreciates the rugged countryside. Filled with plenty of open spaces for the outdoor enthusiast to explore and admire, West Texas is also home to bustling cities such as El Paso, Odessa and Midland. Home buyers looking for bargains in West Texas won't be disappointed; Big Bend Country offers plenty of good buys for those who know where to look.
Located two hours east of El Paso along I-10, the mountain town of Van Horn offers some of most reasonable home prices in the region. The seat of Culberson County, Van Horn has a relatively low cost of living (more than 30 percent below the national average) and a median home value of $38,510, according to 2009 figures. Van Horn real estate includes plenty of affordable land on which home buyers may custom design and build their own homes. In town, the Van Horn Independent School District provides a public education. Jobs near Van Horn, Texas, are expected to grow 30 percent by 2020.
A town of about 8,000 people, Pecos is small but active commercial and agriculture hub located about an hour's drive west of Odessa on I-20. With a 2009 median housing value of $24,640, Pecos offers plenty of deals. Home buyers can choose from single-family homes, including many recent builds, and reasonably priced plots of land. Living expenses in Pecos such health care, food and groceries and utilities are 35 percent below the U.S. average. Students may attend the Pecos-Barstow-Toyah Independent School District. Projected job growth in Pecos by 2020 is about 35 percent.
Named for a nearby Civil Era-fort, Fort Stockton is home a growing tourism industry for its historic Old West charm and proximity to Big Bend National Park. Although Fort Stockton is small (about 7,000 residents), there are plenty of amenities nearby, from shopping and restaurants to parks and museums. With a 2009 median home value of $48,310, home buyers can choose from plenty of budget-friendly properties in Fort Stockton. The public school system in Fort Stockton has two elementary schools, an intermediate school, a middle school, a high school and a daycare/education center. Fort Stockton jobs are expected to grow more than 30 percent by 2010.
The seat of Ward County, Monahans is a small town of about 6,000 residents. Homes in this oil town are cost-effective, with a 2009 median home value of $39,550. Monahans' school-aged children are served by the Monahans Wickette Pyote Independent School District, which has been named exemplary by the Texas Education Board. The overall cost of living is 30 percent below the nation's average. The local economy is expected to grow 46.1 percent by 2020, creating many new jobs.
A largely rural county near the U.S.-Mexico border, Terrell County, known as "The Cactus Capitol of Texas," has plenty of inexpensive land available for building and ranching. For homes that are already built, the 2009 median home value is $30,650. The largest community in Terrell is a Sanderson, a small but vibrant unincorporated community of about 800 residents. Although schools are far and few between in Terrell County, the average spending per student in Terrell County is $10,235, compared with the national average of $6,058. Jobs can be sparse in Terrell County, butthey are expected to grow 58 percent by 2020.
Although urban West Texas home prices are among the highest in the area, if you prefer city living, you can still find affordable housing for much less than in other big and mid-sized cities in Texas. On average, living in El Paso costs 6 percent, 13 percent and 16 percent less than living in Houston, Dallas and Austin, respectively.
Several neighborhoods within West Texas' most populous cities are priced below average home value. For some of El Paso's most inexpensive homes, try homes in neighborhoods located along the U.S.-Mexico border as well as far north El Paso communities such as Veteran's Park. In Midland, the cheapest home prices tend to be in the south and east parts of city. Bargain-home hunters in Odessa should look at properties on the west side of the city, where homes tend to be older.
