Head-to-Head · City Comparison
El Paso, TX
VS
Jersey City, NJ
🏆 El Paso leads 15 of 23 categories
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 ✓ Larger
Jersey City
New Jersey
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$91,151 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
148⚠ High
Population
287,899
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
El Paso, TX
Pros
Homes cost $341k less ($159,300 vs $500,100)
Rent averages $823/mo less ($976 vs $1,799)
50% less violent crime than Jersey City
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Jersey City
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 39°F
Cons
Median income trails Jersey City by $35,441/yr
Higher unemployment (6.8% vs 5.8%)
Jersey City, NJ
Pros
Households earn $35,441 more per year on average
More college-educated — 51.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (5.8%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 96°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $500,100
Higher rents — median is $1,799/mo
Violent crime (561.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 22% higher than El Paso
Key Differences at a Glance
El Paso
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 90.2 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
El Paso
Violent Crime
50% lower
278.4 vs 561.6 per 100k
El Paso
Median Home Value
$341k less
$159,300 vs $500,100
El Paso
Summer Heat
9.0°F warmer
July avg high 95.8°F vs 86.8°F
Jersey City
Median Income
$35,441
$91,151 vs $55,710/yr
Jersey City
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
5.8% vs 6.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | El Paso, TX | Jersey City, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.2 ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $159,300 ✓ Lower | $500,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $976 ✓ Lower | $1,799⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $55,710 | $91,151 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.8%⚠ High | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.7 min ✓ Shorter | 37.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.7% | 18.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 72 ✓ Safer | 127⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 73 ✓ Safer | 148⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 ✓ Safer | 97 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | A- (117) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 | 12.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.1% | 51.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.5% | 90.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | EL PASO ISD | Jersey City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.6°F ✓ Warmer | 39.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.8°F ✓ Warmer | 86.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.3" ✓ Drier | 50.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.8" ✓ Less | 28.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 677,181 ✓ Larger | 287,899 |
| Median Age | 33.7 | 34.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.5% ✓ Higher | 29.2% |
| Under 18 | 25.4% ✓ More | 20.3% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
El Paso's cost of living index is 90.2 vs Jersey City's 112.5 (US average = 100).
El Paso is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, El Paso leads 15 of 23 categories. El Paso wins 15 and Jersey City wins 8. 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 Jersey City or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($159,300 vs $500,100 median home), income ($55,710 vs $91,151), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
El Paso, TX and Jersey City, NJ are about 1,891 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.