Living in El Paso, TX
El Paso is the 23rd-largest city in the US, home to about 683,000 people in 2025. Its population has been roughly flat since 2020. Prices across the metro area run well below the national average (89.9 on an index where the US is 100).
- Population, 2025
- 683,012+0.6% since 2020
- Median home value
- $184,5003.1 years of median income
- Median rent
- $1,073/morent plus utilities
- Household income
- $59,745median, per year
- Price level
- 89.9US average = 100
- January / July highs
- 59° / 96°lows 35° / 73°
- Average commute
- 23 min9% work from home
- State income tax
- Noneon wages
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County: El Paso County
Time zone: Mountain Time (UTC-7, UTC-6 in summer)
Elevation: about 3,717 ft
Metro area: El Paso, TX
Cost of living in El Paso
The median home in El Paso is worth $184,500 and the median household earns $59,745 a year, so a typical home costs about 3.1 years of income. Median gross rent (rent plus utilities) is $1,073 a month, about 22% of the median household's income. BEA puts overall prices in the El Paso, TX metro area at 89.9, with housing at 71.2 and goods at 93.8 (US = 100). In practice, a $75,000 salary in an average-priced place stretches about as far as $67,400 here. Texas has no state income tax on wages. The average combined state and local sales tax in Texas is 8.2%.
What would my salary be worth in El Paso?
El Paso weather
Average highs run from 59°F in January to 96°F in July, and January nights average 34°F. It gets 9 inches of rain and melted snow a year and 3 inches of snow. Expect about 117 days a year at 90°F or hotter. The most comfortable months are March to April and October to November.
Month-by-month weather and the best time to visit El Paso
People and work
The median resident is 34.5 years old, and 28% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. 61% of households own their home. The average one-way commute is 23 minutes; 9% of workers work from home.
- Median age
- 34.5154th youngest of 546
- Bachelor's or higher
- 28%adults 25+
- Homeowners
- 61%of households
- People per sq mile
- 2,639258.8 sq mi of land
- Take transit to work
- 1%1% walk, 0.2% bike
- Unemployment
- 6%2020-2024 average
- Poverty rate
- 18.4%of residents
- Typical home built
- 1984median year
Who moves to El Paso, and where people go
From farther away, newcomers most often come from San Antonio (Bexar County), Phoenix (Maricopa County) and Los Angeles (Los Angeles County). People who leave for somewhere more than 100 miles away most often head to San Antonio (Bexar County), Phoenix (Maricopa County) and Fort Worth (Tarrant County). See the map and full lists
IRS county-to-county migration, 2022 to 2023 tax years. Where Americans are moving.
Natural hazards, home prices and air quality
Natural hazard risk
Relatively High
FEMA rating for El Paso County, scored against every US county. Biggest risks: winter weather, hail, lightning, inland flooding.
Home prices
+2.2% in a year
Up 48% over five years. FHFA house price index for the El Paso, TX area, 2026 Q2.
Air quality, 2025
18% good days
63 days unhealthy at least for sensitive groups. EPA daily air quality index for the El Paso, TX area (365 days measured).
FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025) combines expected losses from 18 natural hazards with how vulnerable and resilient the community is. It describes the county, not your street; check flood maps for a specific address at FEMA's Flood Map Service Center.
Parks and sights near El Paso
The best-known parks, museums, zoos and landmarks within about 35 miles. Tap Been or Want to add them to your city passport.
- El Paso Community College 7 miles
- The University of Texas at El Paso 13 miles
- Southwest University at El Paso 9 miles
Places from Wikidata (CC0), linked to each one's official site or Wikipedia article. Check hours and fees before you go.
Airports near El Paso
| Airport | Distance | Passengers boarding in 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| El Paso International Airport ELP | 9 mi | 2,071,894 |
Federal Aviation Administration, calendar year 2024 passenger boardings (enplanements) at commercial service airports. Straight-line distance.
Colleges in and near El Paso
| College | Distance | Undergrads | Net price a year | Graduate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| El Paso Community College | 7 mi | 24,214 | $6,869 | 25% |
| The University of Texas at El Paso | 13 mi | 21,005 | $6,803 | 51% |
| Southwest University at El Paso | 9 mi | 2,073 | $16,923 | n/a |
US Department of Education College Scorecard, October 2026 release. Net price is the average yearly cost after grants for students who get federal aid. Graduate: share finishing within 150% of normal time.
Frost dates and fall color in El Paso
Half the years, the last spring night at 32°F comes before March 2, so plant tender crops after that date or wait a week or two to be safer. Fall color depends on the trees, but the US Department of Agriculture says the brightest leaves come with warm, sunny days and cool nights, and that frost ruins vivid color. Here, cool 36°F nights usually start around November 10 and the first frost comes around November 20.
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals for El Paso Intl. Airport, TX, median (50%) dates. All frost dates for El Paso.
Wildfire smoke in El Paso
From 2021 through 2025, a smoke plume covered El Paso on about 65 days a year, including about 5 days of medium or heavy smoke. Smoke high overhead can turn sunsets red without reaching the ground, so check the air quality reading before you change plans.
NOAA Hazard Mapping System smoke analysis, daily satellite plumes over the city center, 2021 to 2025. Smoke days for every city.
Home internet in El Paso
Census Bureau American Community Survey 2020-2024, table B28002, 245,346 households. Compare every city.
Public schools in El Paso
Downtown El Paso is in this district. Neighborhoods farther out may belong to a different one, so check the address with the district before you buy or rent.
| District | Grades | Students | Schools | Students per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ysleta Independent School District | Pre-K to 12 | 34,062 | 50 | 14.6 |
Other districts within 10 miles: El Paso Independent School District (48,118 students), Socorro Independent School District (46,668 students), Clint Independent School District (10,077 students), San Elizario Independent School District (2,927 students).
National Center for Education Statistics, school district boundaries and characteristics, 2024-25 school year.
El Paso's twin cities
Cities at least 250 miles away with the closest match to El Paso's weather month by month and its costs (price level, home values and rent).
- Abilene, TX84% matchCompare
- San Angelo, TX82% matchCompare
- Wichita Falls, TX72% matchCompare
- Killeen, TX69% matchCompare
Find a twin that is cheaper, warmer or cooler
Stargazing near El Paso
The nearest certified International Dark Sky Places:
Designations by DarkSky International as recorded in Wikidata (CC0). All dark sky places.
Ski resorts near El Paso
- Ski Cloudcroft 93 miles
- Ski Apache 121 miles
Straight-line distance. All ski resorts.
Pros and cons of living in El Paso
Data points come from the official sources on this page. Points marked Local come from people who live here, are read by a person before they appear, and are ranked by readers.
Pros
- Data Homes are affordable for locals: the median home costs 3.1 years of median household income, lower than in three quarters of the cities we cover.
- Data Everyday prices in the metro run 10% below the US average (BEA).
- Data Texas has no state income tax on wages.
Cons
- Data Summers are long and hot: about 117 days a year reach 90°F.
- Data Air quality is a concern: 63 days in 2025 were unhealthy at least for sensitive groups (EPA).
El Paso report card from locals
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El Paso through locals' eyes
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Cities near El Paso
| City | Distance | Population | Home value | Price level | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Las Cruces, NM | 51 mi | 116,978 | $231,700 | 90.2 | Compare |
| Odessa, TX | 231 mi | 122,707 | $223,100 | 93.9 | Compare |
| Albuquerque, NM | 233 mi | 556,588 | $291,500 | 95.5 | Compare |
| Rio Rancho, NM | 247 mi | 114,419 | $310,200 | 95.5 | Compare |
| Midland, TX | 249 mi | 147,615 | $319,200 | 95.8 | Compare |
| Tucson, AZ | 274 mi | 548,371 | $266,200 | 96.9 | Compare |
Straight-line distance between city centers.
Cities with a similar profile
Closest match on climate, price level, size, income and median age, outside the immediate area.
Compare El Paso with another city
Frequently asked questions
Is El Paso a good place to live?
It depends on what you need. The numbers show prices below the national average, homes that cost under four years of median income, no state income tax on wages; the trade-offs are 117 days a year at 90°F or hotter. Compare El Paso side by side with another city to see how it stacks up for you.
What is the population of El Paso?
The Census Bureau estimates El Paso had 683,012 residents on July 1, 2025, compared with 678,932 in April 2020 (+0.6%).
How much do you need to earn to live in El Paso?
Using BEA price levels, a $75,000 salary in an average-priced US city buys about the same as $67,400 in the El Paso area. The median household here earns $59,745.
When is the best time to visit El Paso?
By the 1991-2020 climate normals, March to April and October to November are the most comfortable months. July averages 96°F and January 59°F for daytime highs.
What county is El Paso in?
El Paso is in El Paso County, Texas. Source: Census Bureau 2020 geography.
What time zone is El Paso in?
El Paso is on Mountain Time (UTC-7, or UTC-6 during daylight saving time from March to November).
What is the elevation of El Paso?
About 3,717 feet above sea level at the city center. Elevation varies across the city.
Does Texas have a state income tax?
No. Texas does not tax wage income.
Sources
Population: Census Bureau Vintage 2025 estimates (July 1, 2025). Income, housing, education and commuting: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates for the city of El Paso. Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 for the El Paso, TX metro area. Weather: NOAA 1991-2020 normals, El Paso Intl. Airport, TX station. Taxes: Tax Foundation 2026. How we get our numbers.