Head-to-Head · City Comparison
El Paso, TX
VS
Renton, WA
🏆 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 ✓ Safer
Population
677,181 ✓ Larger
Renton
Washington
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$92,292 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
89
Population
105,355
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
El Paso, TX
Pros
Homes cost $418k less ($159,300 vs $576,800)
Rent averages $888/mo less ($976 vs $1,864)
18% less violent crime than Renton
23% cheaper overall cost of living than Renton
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.2)
Cons
Median income trails Renton by $36,582/yr
Higher unemployment (6.8% vs 4.2%)
Renton, WA
Pros
Households earn $36,582 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.6 pts lower (4.2%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 96°F
More college-educated — 36.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $576,800
Higher rents — median is $1,864/mo
Cost of living runs 23% higher than El Paso
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Key Differences at a Glance
El Paso
Cost of Living
23% cheaper
COL index 90.2 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
El Paso
Violent Crime
18% lower
278.4 vs 339.2 per 100k
El Paso
Median Home Value
$418k less
$159,300 vs $576,800
El Paso
Summer Heat
18.6°F warmer
July avg high 95.8°F vs 77.2°F
Renton
Median Income
$36,582
$92,292 vs $55,710/yr
Renton
Unemployment
2.6 pp lower
4.2% vs 6.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | El Paso, TX | Renton, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.2 ✓ Cheaper | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $159,300 ✓ Lower | $576,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $976 ✓ Lower | $1,864⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $55,710 | $92,292 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.8%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.7 min ✓ Shorter | 30.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.7% | 16.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 72 ✓ Safer | 117⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 73 ✓ Safer | 89 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 ✓ Safer | 158⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.1% | 36.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.5% | 89.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | EL PASO ISD | Renton School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.6°F ✓ Warmer | 48.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.8°F ✓ Warmer | 77.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.3" ✓ Drier | 44.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.8" ✓ Less | 6.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 677,181 ✓ Larger | 105,355 |
| Median Age | 33.7 | 36.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.5% ✓ Higher | 53.6% |
| Under 18 | 25.4% ✓ More | 20.6% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% ✓ More | 12.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
El Paso's cost of living index is 90.2 vs Renton's 113.0 (US average = 100).
El Paso is 23% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, El Paso leads 17 of 23 categories. El Paso wins 17 and Renton 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 Renton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($159,300 vs $576,800 median home), income ($55,710 vs $92,292), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
El Paso, TX and Renton, WA are about 1,362 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.