Head-to-Head · City Comparison
El Paso, TX
VS
Memphis, TN
🏆 El Paso leads 15 of 22 categories
El Paso
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.2 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$55,710 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
73 ✓ Safer
Population
677,181 ✓ Larger
Memphis
Tennessee
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.4
Median Household Income
$48,090
Violent Crime Index
658⚠ High
Population
630,027
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
El Paso, TX
Pros
89% less violent crime than Memphis
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (6.8%)
Households earn $7,620 more per year on average
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.2)
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 51°F
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Memphis
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Memphis, TN
Pros
Homes cost $20k less ($139,600 vs $159,300)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.4)
Cons
Violent crime (2501.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails El Paso by $7,620/yr
Property crime (6899.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.6% vs 6.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
El Paso
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 90.2 vs 92.4 (100 = US avg)
El Paso
Median Income
$7,620
$55,710 vs $48,090/yr
El Paso
Violent Crime
89% lower
278.4 vs 2501.3 per 100k
El Paso
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
6.8% vs 8.6% unemployment
El Paso
Summer Heat
3.9°F warmer
July avg high 95.8°F vs 91.9°F
Memphis
Median Home Value
$20k less
$139,600 vs $159,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | El Paso, TX | Memphis, TN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.2 ✓ Cheaper | 92.4 |
| Median Home Value | $159,300 | $139,600 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $976 ✓ Lower | $1,050 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $55,710 ✓ Higher | $48,090 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.7 min | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.7% ✓ Higher | 6.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 72 ✓ Safer | 400⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 73 ✓ Safer | 658⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 ✓ Safer | 329⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.1% | 27.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.5% | 87.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | EL PASO ISD | Memphis-Shelby County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.6°F ✓ Warmer | 50.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.8°F ✓ Warmer | 91.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.3" ✓ Drier | 54.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.8" | 2.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 677,181 ✓ Larger | 630,027 |
| Median Age | 33.7 | 34.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.5% ✓ Higher | 46.6% |
| Under 18 | 25.4% ✓ More | 24.6% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 14.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
El Paso's cost of living index is 90.2 vs Memphis's 92.4 (US average = 100).
El Paso is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, El Paso leads 15 of 22 categories. El Paso wins 15 and Memphis wins 7. 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 Memphis or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($159,300 vs $139,600 median home), income ($55,710 vs $48,090), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
El Paso, TX and Memphis, TN are about 974 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.