Head-to-Head · City Comparison
El Paso, TX
VS
Mesa, AZ
🏆 Mesa leads 13 of 23 categories
El Paso
Texas
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.2 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$55,710
Violent Crime Index
73 ✓ Safer
Population
677,181 ✓ Larger
Mesa
Arizona
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4
Median Household Income
$73,766 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High
Population
503,390
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
El Paso, TX
Pros
Homes cost $168k less ($159,300 vs $327,700)
42% less violent crime than Mesa
Rent averages $376/mo less ($976 vs $1,352)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Mesa
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.2)
Cooler summers — July highs near 96°F vs 106°F
Cons
Median income trails Mesa by $18,056/yr
Higher unemployment (6.8% vs 4.7%)
Mesa, AZ
Pros
Households earn $18,056 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (4.7%)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 59°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $327,700
Higher rents — median is $1,352/mo
Violent crime (482.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 8% higher than El Paso
Key Differences at a Glance
El Paso
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 90.2 vs 98.4 (100 = US avg)
El Paso
Violent Crime
42% lower
278.4 vs 482.7 per 100k
El Paso
Median Home Value
$168k less
$159,300 vs $327,700
Mesa
Median Income
$18,056
$73,766 vs $55,710/yr
Mesa
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
4.7% vs 6.8% unemployment
Mesa
Summer Heat
10.1°F warmer
July avg high 105.9°F vs 95.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | El Paso, TX | Mesa, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.2 ✓ Cheaper | 98.4 |
| Median Home Value | $159,300 ✓ Lower | $327,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $976 ✓ Lower | $1,352⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $55,710 | $73,766 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.8%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.7 min ✓ Shorter | 24.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.7% | 14.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 72 ✓ Safer | 104⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 73 ✓ Safer | 127⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 | 70 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.1% | 30.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.5% | 90.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | EL PASO ISD | Mesa Unified District (4235) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.6°F | 67.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.8°F | 105.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.3" | 9.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 677,181 ✓ Larger | 503,390 |
| Median Age | 33.7 | 36.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.5% | 63.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.4% ✓ More | 23.0% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 16.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
El Paso's cost of living index is 90.2 vs Mesa's 98.4 (US average = 100).
El Paso is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Mesa leads 13 of 23 categories. El Paso wins 10 and Mesa wins 13. 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 Mesa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($159,300 vs $327,700 median home), income ($55,710 vs $73,766), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
El Paso, TX and Mesa, AZ are about 326 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.