Head-to-Head · City Comparison
El Paso, TX
VS
Spokane, WA
🏆 El Paso leads 14 of 23 categories
El Paso
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.2 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$55,710
Violent Crime Index
73 ✓ Safer
Population
677,181 ✓ Larger
Spokane
Washington
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$63,316 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
178⚠ High
Population
227,922
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
El Paso, TX
Pros
Homes cost $128k less ($159,300 vs $286,900)
59% less violent crime than Spokane
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 38°F
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Spokane
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.2)
Rent averages $84/mo less ($976 vs $1,060)
Cons
Median income trails Spokane by $7,606/yr
Spokane, WA
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (6.2%)
Households earn $7,606 more per year on average
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 32.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 96°F
Cons
Violent crime (674.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4840.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 11% higher than El Paso
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
El Paso
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 90.2 vs 101.0 (100 = US avg)
El Paso
Violent Crime
59% lower
278.4 vs 674.9 per 100k
El Paso
Median Home Value
$128k less
$159,300 vs $286,900
El Paso
Summer Heat
8.7°F warmer
July avg high 95.8°F vs 87.1°F
Spokane
Median Income
$7,606
$63,316 vs $55,710/yr
Spokane
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
6.2% vs 6.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | El Paso, TX | Spokane, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.2 ✓ Cheaper | 101.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $159,300 ✓ Lower | $286,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $976 ✓ Lower | $1,060 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $55,710 | $63,316 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.8%⚠ High | 6.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.7 min | 20.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.7% | 12.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 72 ✓ Safer | 199⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 73 ✓ Safer | 178⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 ✓ Safer | 231⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | B (101) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.1% | 32.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.5% | 93.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | EL PASO ISD | Spokane School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.6°F ✓ Warmer | 37.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.8°F ✓ Warmer | 87.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.3" ✓ Drier | 17.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.8" ✓ Less | 45.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 677,181 ✓ Larger | 227,922 |
| Median Age | 33.7 | 37.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.5% ✓ Higher | 57.5% |
| Under 18 | 25.4% ✓ More | 20.3% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 16.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
El Paso's cost of living index is 90.2 vs Spokane's 101.0 (US average = 100).
El Paso is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, El Paso leads 14 of 23 categories. El Paso wins 14 and Spokane wins 9. 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 Spokane or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($159,300 vs $286,900 median home), income ($55,710 vs $63,316), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
El Paso, TX and Spokane, WA are about 1,237 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.