Head-to-Head · City Comparison
El Paso, TX
VS
Highlands Ranch, CO
🏆 El Paso leads 12 of 23 categories
El Paso
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.2 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$55,710
Violent Crime Index
73
Population
677,181 ✓ Larger
Highlands Ranch
Colorado
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$148,227 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
36 ✓ Safer
Population
101,514
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
El Paso, TX
Pros
Homes cost $478k less ($159,300 vs $637,400)
Rent averages $1377/mo less ($976 vs $2,353)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Highlands Ranch
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 45°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.2)
Smaller class sizes — 14.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Highlands Ranch by $92,517/yr
Higher unemployment (6.8% vs 3.4%)
Highlands Ranch, CO
Pros
Households earn $92,517 more per year on average
50% less violent crime than El Paso
More college-educated — 65.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.4 pts lower (3.4%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (138.1 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 96°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $637,400
Higher rents — median is $2,353/mo
Cost of living runs 15% higher than El Paso
Snowy winters — about 64" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
El Paso
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 90.2 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
El Paso
Median Home Value
$478k less
$159,300 vs $637,400
El Paso
Summer Heat
8.5°F warmer
July avg high 95.8°F vs 87.3°F
Highlands Ranch
Median Income
$92,517
$148,227 vs $55,710/yr
Highlands Ranch
Violent Crime
50% lower
138.1 vs 278.4 per 100k
Highlands Ranch
Unemployment
3.4 pp lower
3.4% vs 6.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | El Paso, TX | Highlands Ranch, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.2 ✓ Cheaper | 105.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $159,300 ✓ Lower | $637,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $976 ✓ Lower | $2,353⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $55,710 | $148,227 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.8%⚠ High | 3.4% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.7 min ✓ Shorter | 25.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.7% | 26.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 72 | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 73 | 36 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 | 65 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | A- (114) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.1% | 65.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.5% | 98.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | EL PASO ISD | Douglas County School District No. Re 1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.6°F ✓ Warmer | 44.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.8°F ✓ Warmer | 87.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.3" ✓ Drier | 18.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.8" ✓ Less | 64.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 677,181 ✓ Larger | 101,514 |
| Median Age | 33.7 | 41.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.5% | 79.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.4% ✓ More | 24.9% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% ✓ More | 13.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
El Paso's cost of living index is 90.2 vs Highlands Ranch's 105.5 (US average = 100).
El Paso is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, El Paso leads 12 of 23 categories. El Paso wins 12 and Highlands Ranch 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 El Paso to Highlands Ranch or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($159,300 vs $637,400 median home), income ($55,710 vs $148,227), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
El Paso, TX and Highlands Ranch, CO are about 538 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.