Head-to-Head · City Comparison
El Paso, TX
VS
Seattle, WA
🏆 El Paso leads 15 of 23 categories
El Paso
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.2 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$55,710
Violent Crime Index
73 ✓ Safer
Population
677,181
Seattle
Washington
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$116,068 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
204⚠ High
Population
734,603 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
El Paso, TX
Pros
Homes cost $721k less ($159,300 vs $879,900)
Rent averages $969/mo less ($976 vs $1,945)
64% less violent crime than Seattle
23% cheaper overall cost of living than Seattle
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.2)
Cons
Median income trails Seattle by $60,358/yr
Higher unemployment (6.8% vs 4.2%)
Seattle, WA
Pros
Households earn $60,358 more per year on average
More college-educated — 66.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.6 pts lower (4.2%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 96°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $879,900
Higher rents — median is $1,945/mo
Violent crime (775.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 23% higher than El Paso
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
64% lower
278.4 vs 775.1 per 100k
El Paso
Median Home Value
$721k less
$159,300 vs $879,900
El Paso
Summer Heat
19.3°F warmer
July avg high 95.8°F vs 76.5°F
Seattle
Median Income
$60,358
$116,068 vs $55,710/yr
Seattle
Unemployment
2.6 pp lower
4.2% vs 6.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | El Paso, TX | Seattle, 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 | $879,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $976 ✓ Lower | $1,945⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $55,710 | $116,068 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.8%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.7 min ✓ Shorter | 27.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.7% | 27.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 72 ✓ Safer | 218⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 73 ✓ Safer | 204⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 ✓ Safer | 238⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | A- (112) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.1% | 66.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.5% | 95.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | EL PASO ISD | Seattle School District No. 1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.6°F ✓ Warmer | 47.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.8°F ✓ Warmer | 76.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.3" ✓ Drier | 38.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.8" ✓ Less | 3.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 677,181 | 734,603 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.7 | 35.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.5% ✓ Higher | 44.5% |
| Under 18 | 25.4% ✓ More | 14.0% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% ✓ More | 12.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
El Paso's cost of living index is 90.2 vs Seattle's 113.0 (US average = 100).
El Paso is 23% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, El Paso leads 15 of 23 categories. El Paso wins 15 and Seattle wins 8. 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 Seattle or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($159,300 vs $879,900 median home), income ($55,710 vs $116,068), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
El Paso, TX and Seattle, WA are about 1,374 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.