10 Most Conservative Cities in Texas
- Midland
- Odessa
- Abilene
- San Angelo
- Conroe
- Wichita Falls
- Amarillo
- Tyler
- Waco
- Texas City
1. Midland
Midland is the most conservative city in Texas. It's a city in West Texas with a population of just over 130,000 residents. Midland ranks within the top 1% of most conservative cities in the US based on voting data going back to 2002. It's known for being one of the country's top oil producers, and 74% of residents identify as religious. As a result, it's very conservative, and 77.3% of Midland County residents voted Republican in the last presidential election.
2. Odessa
Odessa is another one of the most conservative cities in Texas. It's only about 30 minutes from Midland and shares many of the same cultural and economic characteristics. In 2020, 63% of Odessa residents voted to elect the ultra-conservative Javier Joven as mayor over longtime city councilman Dewey Bryant. Along with Midland, Odessa is also within the top 1% of most conservative communities in America, and 73.3% of residents voted Republican in the last presidential election.
3. Abilene
Abilene is also one of the most conservative towns in Texas. It's a medium-sized city in Central Texas with a population of 125,182. Home to three Christian Universities, Abilene Christian, McMurry, and Hardin-Simmons University, Abilene is a deeply religious community with one of the highest numbers of churches per capita in the world.
The city's economy is primarily based on manufacturing, healthcare, and education, and Abilene has a strong record of voting for conservatives. About 72% of residents voted Republican in the last presidential election.
Abilene also stands out as an exceptionally affordable living destination, particularly attractive to individuals with lower incomes. For those interested in learning more, we encourage you to check out our article on the cheapest places to live in Texas where we dive into the perks of living in Abilene.
4. San Angelo
San Angelo is another one of the most conservative cities in Texas. It's a city in West Central, Texas, with a population of just under 100,000 residents. As the home of Goodfellow Air Force Base and the Roman Catholic Diocese of San Angelo, the city is home to many religious residents and military families. The main industries in San Angelo are defense, agriculture, and manufacturing. As a result, it is very conservative, and 71.5% of residents voted Republican in the last election.
5. Conroe
Conroe is also among the most conservative towns in Texas. Situated on the banks of Lake Conroe, it's a city with about 100,000 residents located approximately 40 miles north of Houston. Conroe is in the heart of Montgomery County, which has a reputation for being one of the most conservative counties in America. Despite being within the Houston metro area (which is fairly moderate), Conroe is much more rural and blue-collar. As a result, 71.2% of residents voted Republican in the previous election.
6. Wichita Falls
Wichita Falls is also one of the most conservative cities in Texas. The bustling North Texas city is home to just over 100,000 residents. The Sheppard Air Force Base is the largest employer in Wichita Falls, and it's a major hub for the oil and gas industry. The James V Allred Unit, the largest maximum-security prison in Texas, is in Wichita Falls and provides jobs to many residents. As a result, it tends to be very conservative, and 69.7% of residents voted Republican in the last election.
7. Amarillo
Amarillo is another one of the most conservative cities in Texas. Located in the panhandle region of North Texas, Amarillo is in Potter and Randall County and home to just over 200,000 residents. It's home to one of the most productive helium fields in the world and operates one of the largest meat packing facilities in the US. Petroleum extraction is also a major industry, and Pantex, a nuclear weapons assembly and disassembly facility, is also a major employer. Around 57% of Amarillo residents identify as religious. In the 2020 election, 69.6% of Potter County residents and 79.8% of Randall County residents voted Republican.
8. Tyler
Tyler also has a reputation for being one of the most conservative cities in Texas. It's the largest city in northeast Texas, with a population of just over 100,000 residents. Tyler is a deeply religious community with many mosques, synagogues, and churches, including the Cathedral of Immaculate Conception of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Tyler. Don Warren is the current mayor, a Republican who comes from the oil and gas industry and supports conservative values. Around 68.9% of residents voted Republican in the past election.
9. Waco
Waco is another one of the more conservative cities in Texas. Located in central Texas, halfway between Dallas and Austin, Waco is a city of about 140,000 residents. It's a very religious community, and about 62.8% of residents identify as such. It's also home to Baylor University, a Baptist Christian research university, which is also the city's largest employer. As a result, Waco residents tend to be very conservative. It was the site of Donald Trump's first 2024 campaign rally, as 60.8% of residents voted for him in the 2020 election.
10. Texas City
Texas City is also one of the most conservative cities in Texas. Located on the Shoreline of the Galveston Bay, Texas City is home to a major port and a petroleum-refining and petrochemical-manufacturing center. It has a population of about 50,000 that is primarily blue-collar, and 60.6% of residents voted Republican in the last election.