Midland has nation’s highest average personal income per capita

Midland skyline viewed at sunset Saturday, Sept. 15 near Fairgrounds Road. James Durbin/Reporter-Telegram Midland skyline viewed at sunset Saturday, Sept. 15 near Fairgrounds Road. James Durbin/Reporter-Telegram Photo: JAMES DURBIN Photo: JAMES DURBIN Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Midland has nation’s highest average personal income per capita 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

For the third consecutive year, the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, part of the Department of Commerce, has listed Midland as the nation’s fastest growing metropolitan statistical area in terms of personal income. Midland’s personal income grew 12.1 percent from 2011 to 2012.

Odessa was second, as it was in 2011, with an 11.5 percent growth in personal income from 2011 to 2012.

The agency credits the mining industry, which includes oil and gas extraction, as contributing more than any other industry to Midland’s personal income growth.

Midland’s average per capita income was $53,161 in 2009, according to the agency. In 2012, the average was $83,049, a gain of 56.22 percent from 2009 and the highest per capita income in the nation. By comparison, Odessa’s average income in 2009 was $32,216 and $42,698 in 2012, a gain of 32.54 percent.

Comparing Midland to area cities:

-- Abilene’s average per capita income in 2009 averaged $33,122 and grew 14.48 percent to $37.918 in 2012.

-- Lubbock’s average per capita income in 2009 was $32,345 and it rose 11.53 percent to $36,074 in 2012.

-- San Angelo’s average per capita income grew 13.95 percent from $34,848 in 2009 to $39,711 in 2012.

Comparing Midland to large Texas metropolitan areas:

-- Austin-Round Rock’s average per capita income in 2009 was $38,270 and $42,902 in 2012, up 12.10 percent.

-- Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington’s average per capita income in 2009 was $40,485 and $46,136 in 2012, a gain of 13.96 percent.

-- Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land’s per capita average in 2009 was $43,291 and in 2012 it was $51,004, up 17.82 percent.