Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Charlotte, NC
VS
El Paso, TX
🏆 El Paso leads 15 of 23 categories
Charlotte
North Carolina
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.0
Median Household Income
$74,070 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
193⚠ High
Population
875,045 ✓ Larger
El Paso
Texas
15
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.
Charlotte, NC
Pros
Households earn $18,360 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (4.7%)
More college-educated — 46.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 90°F vs 96°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $312,800
Higher rents — median is $1,399/mo
Violent crime (733.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3705.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
El Paso, TX
Pros
Homes cost $154k less ($159,300 vs $312,800)
62% less violent crime than Charlotte
Rent averages $423/mo less ($976 vs $1,399)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.2)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Charlotte
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 52°F
Cons
Median income trails Charlotte by $18,360/yr
Higher unemployment (6.8% vs 4.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Charlotte
Median Income
$18,360
$74,070 vs $55,710/yr
Charlotte
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
4.7% vs 6.8% unemployment
El Paso
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 90.2 vs 97.0 (100 = US avg)
El Paso
Violent Crime
62% lower
278.4 vs 733.2 per 100k
El Paso
Median Home Value
$154k less
$159,300 vs $312,800
El Paso
Summer Heat
5.5°F warmer
July avg high 95.8°F vs 90.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Charlotte, NC | El Paso, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.0 | 90.2 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $312,800⚠ High | $159,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,399⚠ High | $976 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,070 ✓ Higher | $55,710 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.2 min | 23.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 21.3% ✓ Higher | 6.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 186⚠ High | 72 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 193⚠ High | 73 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 176⚠ High | 71 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (108) ✓ Better | B- (94) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.5:1 | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.6% ✓ Higher | 27.1% |
| High School or Higher | 89.7% ✓ Higher | 81.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools | EL PASO ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 52.3°F | 58.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.3°F | 95.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.8" | 10.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.5" | 2.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 875,045 ✓ Larger | 677,181 |
| Median Age | 34.5 ✓ Older | 33.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.1% | 59.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.9% | 25.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.7% | 13.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Charlotte's cost of living index is 97.0 vs El Paso's 90.2 (US average = 100).
El Paso is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, El Paso leads 15 of 23 categories. Charlotte wins 8 and El Paso wins 15. 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 Charlotte to El Paso or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($312,800 vs $159,300 median home), income ($74,070 vs $55,710), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Charlotte, NC and El Paso, TX are about 1,488 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.