Head-to-Head · City Comparison
El Paso, TX
VS
Tyler, TX
🏆 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
Tyler
Texas
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.4
Median Household Income
$63,056 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
103⚠ High
Population
106,440
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
El Paso, TX
Pros
29% less violent crime than Tyler
Homes cost $46k less ($159,300 vs $205,200)
Rent averages $137/mo less ($976 vs $1,113)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.2)
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Tyler
Cons
Median income trails Tyler by $7,346/yr
Higher unemployment (6.8% vs 5.3%)
Tyler, TX
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (5.3%)
Households earn $7,346 more per year on average
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.4)
More college-educated — 31.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Cost of living runs 2% higher than El Paso
Key Differences at a Glance
El Paso
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 90.2 vs 92.4 (100 = US avg)
El Paso
Violent Crime
29% lower
278.4 vs 391.2 per 100k
El Paso
Median Home Value
$46k less
$159,300 vs $205,200
Tyler
Median Income
$7,346
$63,056 vs $55,710/yr
Tyler
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
5.3% vs 6.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | El Paso, TX | Tyler, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.2 ✓ Cheaper | 92.4 |
| Median Home Value | $159,300 ✓ Lower | $205,200 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $976 ✓ Lower | $1,113 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $55,710 | $63,056 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.8%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.7 min | 20.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.7% ✓ Higher | 6.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 72 ✓ Safer | 98 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 73 ✓ Safer | 103⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 ✓ Safer | 91 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | B (97) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.1% | 31.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.5% | 87.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | EL PASO ISD | TYLER ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.6°F ✓ Warmer | 57.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.8°F ✓ Warmer | 93.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.3" ✓ Drier | 47.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.8" | 0.5" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 677,181 ✓ Larger | 106,440 |
| Median Age | 33.7 | 34.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.5% ✓ Higher | 54.9% |
| Under 18 | 25.4% ✓ More | 22.9% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 16.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
El Paso's cost of living index is 90.2 vs Tyler's 92.4 (US average = 100).
El Paso is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, El Paso leads 14 of 23 categories. El Paso wins 14 and Tyler 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 Tyler or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($159,300 vs $205,200 median home), income ($55,710 vs $63,056), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
El Paso, TX and Tyler, TX are about 652 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.