Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Detroit, MI
VS
El Paso, TX
🏆 El Paso leads 18 of 23 categories
Detroit
Michigan
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0
Median Household Income
$37,761
Violent Crime Index
469⚠ High
Population
636,787
El Paso
Texas
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.2 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$55,710 ✓ Higher
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.
Detroit, MI
Pros
Homes cost $93k less ($66,700 vs $159,300)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 96°F
Cons
Median income trails El Paso by $17,949/yr
Violent crime (1781.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4305.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (14.7% vs 6.8%)
El Paso, TX
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 7.9 pts lower (6.8%)
84% less violent crime than Detroit
Households earn $17,949 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 33°F
More college-educated — 27.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.2)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Detroit
Median Home Value
$93k less
$66,700 vs $159,300
El Paso
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 90.2 vs 98.0 (100 = US avg)
El Paso
Median Income
$17,949
$55,710 vs $37,761/yr
El Paso
Violent Crime
84% lower
278.4 vs 1781.3 per 100k
El Paso
Unemployment
7.9 pp lower
6.8% vs 14.7% unemployment
El Paso
Summer Heat
11.7°F warmer
July avg high 95.8°F vs 84.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Detroit, MI | El Paso, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 | 90.2 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $66,700 ✓ Lower | $159,300 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $989 | $976 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $37,761 | $55,710 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 14.7%⚠ High | 6.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.7 min | 23.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.7% ✓ Higher | 6.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 363⚠ High | 72 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 469⚠ High | 73 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 205⚠ High | 71 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (79) | B- (94) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.1:1 | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 16.9% | 27.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.8% ✓ Higher | 81.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Detroit Public Schools Community District | EL PASO ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 33.0°F | 58.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.1°F | 95.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 34.9" | 10.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 30.8" | 2.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 636,787 | 677,181 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.0 ✓ Older | 33.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.8% | 59.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% | 25.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.4% ✓ More | 13.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Detroit's cost of living index is 98.0 vs El Paso's 90.2 (US average = 100).
El Paso is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, El Paso leads 18 of 23 categories. Detroit wins 5 and El Paso wins 18. 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 Detroit to El Paso or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($66,700 vs $159,300 median home), income ($37,761 vs $55,710), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Detroit, MI and El Paso, TX are about 1,470 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.