Head-to-Head · City Comparison
El Paso, TX
VS
Yuma, AZ
🏆 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 ✓ Safer
Population
677,181 ✓ Larger
Yuma
Arizona
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.4
Median Household Income
$59,312 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High
Population
96,314
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
El Paso, TX
Pros
34% less violent crime than Yuma
Homes cost $27k less ($159,300 vs $186,500)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (6.8%)
More college-educated — 27.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.2)
Cooler summers — July highs near 96°F vs 107°F
Cons
Median income trails Yuma by $3,602/yr
Yuma, AZ
Pros
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.4)
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 59°F
Households earn $3,602 more per year on average
Cons
Higher unemployment (7.7% vs 6.8%)
Hot summers — July highs average 107°F
Cost of living runs 3% higher than El Paso
Key Differences at a Glance
El Paso
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 90.2 vs 93.4 (100 = US avg)
El Paso
Violent Crime
34% lower
278.4 vs 423.6 per 100k
El Paso
Median Home Value
$27k less
$159,300 vs $186,500
El Paso
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
6.8% vs 7.7% unemployment
Yuma
Median Income
$3,602
$59,312 vs $55,710/yr
Yuma
Summer Heat
10.9°F warmer
July avg high 106.7°F vs 95.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | El Paso, TX | Yuma, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.2 ✓ Cheaper | 93.4 |
| Median Home Value | $159,300 ✓ Lower | $186,500 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $976 ✓ Lower | $1,028 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $55,710 | $59,312 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.7 min | 17.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.7% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 72 ✓ Safer | 91 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 73 ✓ Safer | 111⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 | 59 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) ✓ Better | C- (70) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.1% ✓ Higher | 20.3% |
| High School or Higher | 81.5% | 83.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | EL PASO ISD | Yuma Elementary District (4499) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.6°F | 69.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.8°F | 106.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.3" | 3.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 677,181 ✓ Larger | 96,314 |
| Median Age | 33.7 ✓ Older | 32.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.5% | 64.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.4% | 25.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 16.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
El Paso's cost of living index is 90.2 vs Yuma's 93.4 (US average = 100).
El Paso is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, El Paso leads 12 of 23 categories. El Paso wins 12 and Yuma 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 Yuma or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($159,300 vs $186,500 median home), income ($55,710 vs $59,312), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
El Paso, TX and Yuma, AZ are about 475 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.