Boom Towns: How Oil Transforms Small Texas Communities

When oil prices surge and rigs start drilling, sleepy West Texas towns transform almost overnight. Population explodes, housing becomes impossible to find, schools overflow, and highways turn deadly. The communities portrayed in Landman—places like Midland, Odessa, and the fictional Wink—aren't just backdrops for drama. They're real places experiencing real transformations that bring both unprecedented prosperity and crushing strain on every aspect of community life.

The Numbers Behind the Boom: Midland's Explosive Growth

The Permian Basin's impact on West Texas communities is staggering. Consider Midland, Texas—one of the epicenters of American oil production and a city that exemplifies boom town dynamics:

The Midland Metropolitan Statistical Area ranks among the top ten fastest-growing MSAs in the United States, with a 2.8% growth rate between 2023 and 2024. This isn't gradual growth—it's a population surge that strains every system a community relies on.

The Housing Crisis: When Workers Can't Find Homes

Perhaps no aspect of boom town life creates more immediate hardship than the housing crisis. When thousands of workers flood into a community designed for a fraction of that population, the math simply doesn't work.

Skyrocketing Prices

In Midland, the median home price reached $477,000 in January 2025—a 2% increase from the previous year. But annual figures mask the volatility. During peak boom periods, homes can appreciate 10-15% in a single year. For longtime residents on fixed incomes, property taxes alone can become unaffordable.

The rental market is even more brutal. With rents projected to climb nearly 18% in 2025, workers earning solid wages still struggle to find affordable housing. Competition for available units is fierce, with multiple applicants vying for each listing.

Man Camps and Temporary Housing

When traditional housing fails to meet demand, alternative solutions emerge. "Man camps"—temporary housing facilities for oil field workers—appear on the outskirts of boom towns. These range from basic RV parks to more elaborate complexes with shared amenities.

As depicted in Landman, man camps represent both a practical solution and a social phenomenon. They house workers who might otherwise have nowhere to live, but they also create distinct communities somewhat separate from the permanent residents of boom towns.

New Construction Can't Keep Up

Developers are building as fast as they can. New construction is particularly active in suburban areas, with a noticeable push toward more affordable housing in the $200,000-$300,000 range. But even with builders working at capacity, supply lags far behind demand. Homes spend an average of only 38 days on the market before selling—and many sell for above asking price.

Infrastructure Under Pressure: Roads, Schools, and Services

When population doubles or triples in a decade, infrastructure designed for the original population crumbles under the weight. Every public system faces the same impossible challenge: meeting exploding demand with fixed or slowly growing resources.

Deadly Highways

West Texas highways have become some of the most dangerous in America. The combination of factors is lethal:

• Heavy truck traffic: Thousands of 18-wheelers hauling drilling equipment, water, sand, and oil
• Fatigued workers: 12-hour shifts followed by long commutes
• Poor road conditions: Infrastructure not designed for current traffic loads
• High speeds: Long, straight roads encourage excessive speed

During peak boom periods, someone died on Permian Basin highways every single day. Many victims are oil field workers; others are local residents simply trying to navigate their community.

Overwhelmed Schools

School districts face impossible choices when enrollment surges. Classrooms overflow, portable buildings appear on campuses, and teachers are in short supply. The challenge is compounded by the boom-bust nature of the industry—districts hesitate to build permanent facilities that might sit empty during the next downturn.

For families moving to boom towns, finding quality education for their children adds stress to an already difficult transition. The best schools fill quickly, and newer residents may find their children in the most crowded classrooms.

Healthcare System Strain

Hospitals and clinics designed to serve smaller populations struggle to meet demand. Emergency rooms overflow with workers injured on the job. Primary care appointments may be booked weeks in advance. Specialized care often requires traveling to larger cities.

The healthcare challenge is particularly acute for mental health services. The stress of boom town life—long hours, separation from family, financial pressure, and dangerous work—takes a psychological toll that the available support systems struggle to address.

Crime and Public Safety: The Reality Behind the Headlines

Boom towns have a reputation for increased crime, but the reality in places like Midland is more nuanced than headlines suggest.

Positive Trends in 2024-2025

Contrary to some expectations, Midland has actually seen crime reduction in recent years:

• Homicides: Only 5 in 2024, down from 13 in 2022
• Overall "Part 1 Crimes": Down 10.43% in 2024 vs. 2023
• Robbery: Down 25%
• Assault: Down 12.64%
• Motor vehicle theft: Down 18.93%

This positive trend continued into 2025, with "Part 1 Crimes" dropping another 3.98% in the first half of the year. Total crimes in 2024 were at their lowest level since at least 2021.

Why Crime May Be Declining

Several factors likely contribute to declining crime despite population growth:

1. Employment: When good-paying jobs are abundant, economic crime decreases
2. Increased law enforcement: Growing tax revenues allow for more officers and resources
3. Community investment: Oil companies often fund community safety initiatives
4. Demographic shifts: Workers focused on earning money may be less likely to engage in crime

However, booms are cyclical. During downturns, when layoffs surge and financial stress increases, these protective factors may weaken.

The Economic Engine: $119 Billion and 862,000 Jobs

For all the challenges, the economic benefits of the Permian Basin boom are enormous. In 2024 alone:

• $119 billion contributed to the U.S. economy
• 862,250+ jobs supported nationwide
• $19.2 billion in state taxes generated for Texas and New Mexico

These numbers translate into real prosperity for many residents. High-paying jobs attract workers from across the country. Local businesses—from restaurants to car dealerships—thrive. Property owners see their land values appreciate dramatically.

The Wealth Gap

But the benefits aren't distributed evenly. Those who owned property before the boom see the largest gains. Workers who arrived seeking opportunity may earn good wages but struggle to build wealth when housing costs consume most of their income.

Long-time residents on fixed incomes—retirees, teachers, government workers—may find their cost of living increasing faster than their income. Some are priced out of communities where their families have lived for generations.

Environmental and Health Concerns

The boom brings environmental challenges that affect community health and quality of life:

• Air quality: Emissions from drilling operations, flaring, and increased vehicle traffic
• Water concerns: Competition for groundwater resources and potential contamination risks
• Noise and light pollution: 24/7 drilling operations disturbing residential areas
• Dust and particulates: Increased construction and traffic kicking up dust

Residents report health concerns including respiratory issues, particularly among children and the elderly. While companies invest in emission reduction technologies, the sheer scale of activity means environmental impacts remain significant.

The Boom-Bust Psychology: Living with Uncertainty

Perhaps the most underappreciated aspect of boom town life is the psychological toll of uncertainty. Everyone in the Permian Basin knows that booms don't last forever. Oil prices will eventually fall, rigs will shut down, and workers will leave.

This awareness creates a unique psychological environment:

• Workers: Pressure to earn and save as much as possible while the boom lasts
• Business owners: Uncertainty about whether to invest in expansion
• Homeowners: Fear that property values could collapse
• Local government: Hesitation to build permanent infrastructure

Long-time residents who've survived previous busts carry scars—memories of empty storefronts, foreclosed homes, and friends who left when the work dried up. This generational memory shapes how communities approach each new boom.

Lessons for Boom Town Survival

Communities that navigate oil booms most successfully tend to share certain characteristics:

Diversification

Smart boom towns use the prosperity to build economic foundations beyond oil. Universities, healthcare facilities, and technology sectors provide stability when oil prices fall.

Savings and Reserves

Texas allows cities to establish "rainy day funds" from tax revenues during booms. Wise communities save aggressively rather than spending every dollar on current needs.

Infrastructure Investment

While hesitancy about permanent construction is understandable, chronically underinvesting in infrastructure creates its own costs. Strategic investments in roads, schools, and utilities can serve the community for decades.

Community Cohesion

Towns that maintain strong community institutions—churches, civic organizations, volunteer groups—weather booms better than those that fragment under pressure. These institutions help integrate newcomers while preserving community identity.