Head-to-Head · City Comparison
El Paso, TX
VS
Round Rock, TX
🏆 El Paso leads 12 of 23 categories
El Paso
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.2 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$55,710
Violent Crime Index
73
Population
677,181 ✓ Larger
Round Rock
Texas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6
Median Household Income
$91,888 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
34 ✓ Safer
Population
120,465
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
El Paso, TX
Pros
Homes cost $178k less ($159,300 vs $337,500)
Rent averages $610/mo less ($976 vs $1,586)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.2)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Round Rock
Cons
Median income trails Round Rock by $36,178/yr
Higher unemployment (6.8% vs 3.8%)
Round Rock, TX
Pros
Households earn $36,178 more per year on average
53% less violent crime than El Paso
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.0 pts lower (3.8%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (130.7 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 42.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $337,500
Higher rents — median is $1,586/mo
Cost of living runs 7% higher than El Paso
Key Differences at a Glance
El Paso
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 90.2 vs 97.6 (100 = US avg)
El Paso
Median Home Value
$178k less
$159,300 vs $337,500
Round Rock
Median Income
$36,178
$91,888 vs $55,710/yr
Round Rock
Violent Crime
53% lower
130.7 vs 278.4 per 100k
Round Rock
Unemployment
3.0 pp lower
3.8% vs 6.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | El Paso, TX | Round Rock, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.2 ✓ Cheaper | 97.6 |
| Median Home Value | $159,300 ✓ Lower | $337,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $976 ✓ Lower | $1,586⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $55,710 | $91,888 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.8%⚠ High | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.7 min ✓ Shorter | 25.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.7% | 19.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 72 | 58 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 73 | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 ✓ Safer | 92 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | A- (115) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.1% | 42.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.5% | 93.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | EL PASO ISD | ROUND ROCK ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.6°F | 59.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.8°F ✓ Warmer | 95.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.3" ✓ Drier | 36.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 677,181 ✓ Larger | 120,465 |
| Median Age | 33.7 | 35.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.5% ✓ Higher | 55.6% |
| Under 18 | 25.4% ✓ More | 25.0% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% ✓ More | 10.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
El Paso's cost of living index is 90.2 vs Round Rock's 97.6 (US average = 100).
El Paso is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, El Paso leads 12 of 23 categories. El Paso wins 12 and Round Rock wins 11. 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 Round Rock or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($159,300 vs $337,500 median home), income ($55,710 vs $91,888), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
El Paso, TX and Round Rock, TX are about 526 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.