• After graduating in 2019, Avery and Bayler Boydston moved to Midland, an isolated West Texas town.
• Their social life is thriving because there are so many young adults moving there.
• The city is catering to young people with more high-end gyms, restaurants, and coffee shops.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Avery Boydston, 25, and her husband Bayler, 26, about their decision to move to Midland, Texas, and the new life they have built. The conversation has been edited for length and clarity.

Avery: My husband and I are from Amarillo, Texas. We graduated from high school in 2015 and 2016 and moved to Lubbock to attend Texas Tech University.

In 2019, I received my degree in retail management. At the time, my husband had already graduated from Tech with a degree in mechanical engineering, and was living and working full-time in Midland. 

Bayler: I always wanted to live in Midland. The city has many career opportunities available in the oil and gas industry, and I really wanted to find a solid job with good pay after graduation.

Avery: Bayler was more passionate about living in Midland than I was. I was hoping to start our lives in a bigger city. Despite my apprehension, I moved to Midland in August 2019.  

This year makes a little over four years of us both living in the city. Once you get here, it’s too hard to leave.

We felt confident to pursue homeownership in Midland

Avery: When we first moved to Midland, we lived in a one-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment that we were paying $1,100 each month for in rent. We eventually moved to a nicer complex and rented a similar unit that cost $1,800 each month.

After a year of living in the apartment, we decided to purchase our first home. 

As young buyers that were fresh out of school, we were nervous about the homebuying process — especially because Bayler works in the oil industry, which can be volatile.

[Picture of Bayler in oil industry get up, will be sent shortly] 

Bayler: We began our homebuying journey in early 2020. During that time, the oil and gas industry was suffering and my job security was uncertain. It was important that we stayed within our means when buying a home.

We have purchased two homes in our early 20s 

Avery: In October 2020, we bought a three-bedroom, two-bathroom, 1,800-square-foot starter home for $285,000. At the time, it seemed like we were paying too much but now we know we are lucky. 

The home was a great investment. It is in a good neighborhood that is close to the center of town, a hospital, and several grocery stores. 

In 2022, we moved out of that home and made it available to renters.

That same year, we purchased our second property for $315,000. It’s a three-bedroom, three-bathroom house that is under 2,000 square feet. We live in a family-friendly neighborhood that is in a great location. 

I do think the cost of housing in Midland is high relative to the types of homes that are available. There are houses on the market listed for above $200,000 that need to be completely renovated, so your money does not go as far as it would in more affordable cities like Amarillo. But even so, I know we’re saving more money on housing than our friends that live in other cities. 

Midland continues to grow and invest in the community 

Avery: Midland’s population is growing, so there’s been a big push to invest in the economy and community.

Many of the city’s schools are full and there is a shortage of teachers. The school district is innovative and working on new ways to address the issue and provide students with more resources.

Bayler: The city is also trying to improve its economy by bringing in more businesses like high-end gyms, restaurants, and coffee shops. 

People that are not from Midland often think that there’s not much to do here, but I don’t think our lives are that much different than our friends that live in other areas of Texas, like Dallas. We still go out to eat and play the occasional pickleball.

We can’t imagine life anywhere else

Bayler: Our quality of life has improved in Midland. 

Avery: It all comes down to the opportunities this city provides for young people, both financially and socially.

While living here, I’ve been able to pursue a career in teaching. I now work as a seventh grade teacher at a private school. Bayler’s salary is growing each year and we have expanded our savings by thousands of dollars.  

Our social life is thriving, too. There are so many young couples our age or in their mid 30s and we’ve met some of our best friends while living here. 

I don’t think we would have been able to achieve the lifestyle we now have in Midland anywhere else — or it would have been a lot more difficult.