Head-to-Head · City Comparison
El Paso, TX
VS
Salt Lake City, UT
🏆 El Paso leads 16 of 23 categories
El Paso
Texas
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.2 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$55,710
Violent Crime Index
73 ✓ Safer
Population
677,181 ✓ Larger
Salt Lake City
Utah
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.7
Median Household Income
$72,357 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
227⚠ High
Population
201,269
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
El Paso, TX
Pros
Homes cost $299k less ($159,300 vs $458,600)
68% less violent crime than Salt Lake City
Rent averages $278/mo less ($976 vs $1,254)
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 40°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.2)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Salt Lake City
Cons
Median income trails Salt Lake City by $16,647/yr
Higher unemployment (6.8% vs 3.6%)
Salt Lake City, UT
Pros
Households earn $16,647 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.2 pts lower (3.6%)
More college-educated — 50.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $458,600
Violent crime (864.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (5200.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
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 97.7 (100 = US avg)
El Paso
Violent Crime
68% lower
278.4 vs 864.2 per 100k
El Paso
Median Home Value
$299k less
$159,300 vs $458,600
El Paso
Summer Heat
4.4°F warmer
July avg high 95.8°F vs 91.4°F
Salt Lake City
Median Income
$16,647
$72,357 vs $55,710/yr
Salt Lake City
Unemployment
3.2 pp lower
3.6% vs 6.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | El Paso, TX | Salt Lake City, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.2 ✓ Cheaper | 97.7 |
| Median Home Value | $159,300 ✓ Lower | $458,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $976 ✓ Lower | $1,254 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $55,710 | $72,357 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.8%⚠ High | 3.6% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.7 min | 19.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.7% | 15.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 72 ✓ Safer | 236⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 73 ✓ Safer | 227⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 ✓ Safer | 248⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | B+ (105) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.1% | 50.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.5% | 91.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | EL PASO ISD | Salt Lake District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.6°F ✓ Warmer | 39.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.8°F ✓ Warmer | 91.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.3" ✓ Drier | 17.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.8" ✓ Less | 49.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 677,181 ✓ Larger | 201,269 |
| Median Age | 33.7 ✓ Older | 32.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.5% ✓ Higher | 47.0% |
| Under 18 | 25.4% ✓ More | 18.0% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% ✓ More | 11.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
El Paso's cost of living index is 90.2 vs Salt Lake City's 97.7 (US average = 100).
El Paso is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, El Paso leads 16 of 23 categories. El Paso wins 16 and Salt Lake City 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 Salt Lake City or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($159,300 vs $458,600 median home), income ($55,710 vs $72,357), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
El Paso, TX and Salt Lake City, UT are about 688 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.