Head-to-Head · City Comparison
El Paso, TX
VS
Providence, RI
🏆 El Paso leads 17 of 23 categories
El Paso
Texas
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.2 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$55,710
Violent Crime Index
73
Population
677,181 ✓ Larger
Providence
Rhode Island
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$61,365 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
73 ✓ Safer
Population
189,715
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
El Paso, TX
Pros
Homes cost $134k less ($159,300 vs $293,000)
Rent averages $238/mo less ($976 vs $1,214)
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 38°F
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Providence
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.2)
Cons
Median income trails Providence by $5,655/yr
Providence, RI
Pros
Households earn $5,655 more per year on average
More college-educated — 34.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 96°F
Cons
Cost of living runs 11% higher than El Paso
Key Differences at a Glance
El Paso
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 90.2 vs 100.9 (100 = US avg)
El Paso
Median Home Value
$134k less
$159,300 vs $293,000
El Paso
Summer Heat
12.2°F warmer
July avg high 95.8°F vs 83.6°F
Providence
Median Income
$5,655
$61,365 vs $55,710/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | El Paso, TX | Providence, RI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.2 ✓ Cheaper | 100.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $159,300 ✓ Lower | $293,000 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $976 ✓ Lower | $1,214 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $55,710 | $61,365 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.7 min ✓ Shorter | 24.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.7% | 11.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 72 ✓ Safer | 75 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 73 | 73 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 ✓ Safer | 79 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | B- (95) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.1% | 34.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.5% | 82.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | EL PASO ISD | Providence |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.6°F ✓ Warmer | 38.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.8°F ✓ Warmer | 83.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.3" ✓ Drier | 47.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.8" ✓ Less | 36.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 677,181 ✓ Larger | 189,715 |
| Median Age | 33.7 ✓ Older | 32.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.5% ✓ Higher | 39.9% |
| Under 18 | 25.4% ✓ More | 20.7% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% ✓ More | 11.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
El Paso's cost of living index is 90.2 vs Providence's 100.9 (US average = 100).
El Paso is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, El Paso leads 17 of 23 categories. El Paso wins 17 and Providence wins 6. 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 Providence or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($159,300 vs $293,000 median home), income ($55,710 vs $61,365), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
El Paso, TX and Providence, RI are about 2,039 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.