Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Austin, TX
VS
El Paso, TX
🏆 Austin leads 12 of 23 categories
Austin
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6
Median Household Income
$86,556 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
123⚠ High
Population
958,202 ✓ Larger
El Paso
Texas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.2 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$55,710
Violent Crime Index
73 ✓ Safer
Population
677,181
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Austin, TX
Pros
Households earn $30,846 more per year on average
More college-educated — 56.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.4 pts lower (4.4%)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $461,500
Higher rents — median is $1,549/mo
Violent crime (466.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3241.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
El Paso, TX
Pros
Homes cost $302k less ($159,300 vs $461,500)
Rent averages $573/mo less ($976 vs $1,549)
40% less violent crime than Austin
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.2)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Austin
Cons
Median income trails Austin by $30,846/yr
Higher unemployment (6.8% vs 4.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Austin
Median Income
$30,846
$86,556 vs $55,710/yr
Austin
Unemployment
2.4 pp lower
4.4% vs 6.8% unemployment
El Paso
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 90.2 vs 97.6 (100 = US avg)
El Paso
Violent Crime
40% lower
278.4 vs 466.9 per 100k
El Paso
Median Home Value
$302k less
$159,300 vs $461,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Austin, TX | El Paso, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 | 90.2 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $461,500⚠ High | $159,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,549⚠ High | $976 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,556 ✓ Higher | $55,710 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.1 min | 23.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 22.9% ✓ Higher | 6.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 135⚠ High | 72 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 123⚠ High | 73 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 154⚠ High | 71 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (133) ✓ Better | B- (94) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 56.5% ✓ Higher | 27.1% |
| High School or Higher | 91.1% ✓ Higher | 81.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | AUSTIN ISD | EL PASO ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.5°F ✓ Warmer | 58.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.6°F ✓ Warmer | 95.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.2" | 10.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 2.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 958,202 ✓ Larger | 677,181 |
| Median Age | 34.2 ✓ Older | 33.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.4% | 59.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.7% | 25.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 9.8% | 13.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Austin's cost of living index is 97.6 vs El Paso's 90.2 (US average = 100).
El Paso is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Austin leads 12 of 23 categories. Austin wins 12 and El Paso wins 11. 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 Austin to El Paso or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($461,500 vs $159,300 median home), income ($86,556 vs $55,710), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Austin, TX and El Paso, TX are about 524 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.