Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Anchorage, AK
VS
El Paso, TX
🏆 El Paso leads 14 of 22 categories
Anchorage
Alaska
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$95,731 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
267⚠ High
Population
290,674
El Paso
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.2 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$55,710
Violent Crime Index
73 ✓ Safer
Population
677,181 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Anchorage, AK
Pros
Households earn $40,021 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (5.2%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 67°F vs 96°F
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 37.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $363,800
Higher rents — median is $1,405/mo
Violent crime (1014.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 14% higher than El Paso
El Paso, TX
Pros
Homes cost $205k less ($159,300 vs $363,800)
73% less violent crime than Anchorage
Rent averages $429/mo less ($976 vs $1,405)
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 21°F
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Anchorage
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.2)
Cons
Median income trails Anchorage by $40,021/yr
Higher unemployment (6.8% vs 5.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Anchorage
Median Income
$40,021
$95,731 vs $55,710/yr
Anchorage
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
5.2% vs 6.8% unemployment
El Paso
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 90.2 vs 104.5 (100 = US avg)
El Paso
Violent Crime
73% lower
278.4 vs 1014.8 per 100k
El Paso
Median Home Value
$205k less
$159,300 vs $363,800
El Paso
Summer Heat
28.4°F warmer
July avg high 95.8°F vs 67.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Anchorage, AK | El Paso, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.5⚠ High | 90.2 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $363,800⚠ High | $159,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,405⚠ High | $976 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $95,731 ✓ Higher | $55,710 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.1 min ✓ Shorter | 23.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.7% ✓ Higher | 6.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 213⚠ High | 72 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 267⚠ High | 73 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 132⚠ High | 71 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | B- (94) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.3:1 | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.0% ✓ Higher | 27.1% |
| High School or Higher | 94.2% ✓ Higher | 81.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Anchorage School District | EL PASO ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 20.9°F | 58.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 67.4°F | 95.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 22.6" | 10.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 59.3" | 2.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 290,674 | 677,181 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.5 ✓ Older | 33.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.8% ✓ Higher | 59.5% |
| Under 18 | 23.9% | 25.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.0% | 13.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Anchorage's cost of living index is 104.5 vs El Paso's 90.2 (US average = 100).
El Paso is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, El Paso leads 14 of 22 categories. Anchorage wins 8 and El Paso wins 14. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Anchorage to El Paso or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($363,800 vs $159,300 median home), income ($95,731 vs $55,710), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Anchorage, AK and El Paso, TX are about 2,785 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.