City comparison
No. El Paso's crime index is 87 versus 162 in Austin, and its violent crime index is 88 versus 130, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
El Paso is cheaper. Median rent is $1,073 a month versus $1,729 in Austin.
The income gap between Austin and El Paso is significant: $93,658 median household versus $59,745. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,729 in Austin and $1,073 in El Paso.
This is a genuine split. Austin wins on the job market and El Paso wins on cost of living and safety. Which matters more depends entirely on how you live: remote workers and families weight these categories differently than commuters or single professionals.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. El Paso at $1,073 average has pockets that run $873 and others at $1,473: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Austin and El Paso are 528 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,729 a month in Austin to $1,073 a month in El Paso, down $656 a month (38%).
Median household income goes from $93,658 in Austin to $59,745 in El Paso, down $33,913 (36%).
The crime index goes from 162 in Austin to 87 in El Paso, down 75 points (46%).
The move
El Paso and Austin are 528 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,073 a month in El Paso to $1,729 a month in Austin, up $656 a month (61%).
Median household income goes from $59,745 in El Paso to $93,658 in Austin, up $33,913 (57%).
The crime index goes from 87 in El Paso to 162 in Austin, up 75 points (86%).
Austin, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
El Paso, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Austin and El Paso? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
38% cheaper
El Paso rent is 38% cheaper than Austin
Austin
$1,729/mo
El Paso
Winner$1,073/mo
Typical rent runs $1,073 a month in El Paso versus $1,729 in Austin, so El Paso is 38% cheaper. That's roughly $656/month back in your pocket ($7,872/year). Over five years that's $39,360 you could redirect toward a down payment, travel, or investments. Housing is the bill you pay before groceries, childcare, or a social life, so that gap shows up in how often you eat out and how panicked a rent hike feels. If you already have a high-paying offer in Austin, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, El Paso is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in El Paso? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
57% higher
Austin's median income is 57% higher than El Paso
Austin
Winner$93,658
El Paso
$59,745
Median household income is $93,658 in Austin versus $59,745 in El Paso, so typical pay runs 57% higher in Austin (about $33,913 more household income a year). Higher median income usually signals a stronger local job market and better negotiating leverage on salary. Remote workers should weigh this against cost of living rather than treating it as a direct personal benefit. For people who will actually work in town, Austin is the stronger labor market on paper. El Paso can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
46% lower crime
El Paso's crime index is 46% lower than Austin
Austin
162 (100 = avg)
El Paso
Winner87 (100 = avg)
El Paso's crime index is 87 versus 162 in Austin (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 46% lower in El Paso. That gap is meaningful day-to-day. It affects whether you feel comfortable walking at night, leaving your car on the street, or letting kids play outside unsupervised. Indexes still compress a lot of reality: a calmer city has blocks you would skip, and a higher-crime city has streets that feel neighborly at 10 p.m. On the everyday test of walking from the car to the door, El Paso is the easier city. Austin can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Austin and El Paso are about even on typical weather.
Austin
76°F avg · 85°F highs · comfort 100/100
El Paso
72°F avg · 79°F highs · comfort 100/100
Austin averages about 76°F (85°F highs); El Paso averages about 72°F (79°F highs). Austin sits near 76°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. El Paso sits near 72°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. On daily comfort these two are close enough that the better fit is whichever season you already know you can live with.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Austin is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 57% higher here ($93,658). Start with Austin if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Fit check
Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy
El Paso is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 38% cheaper here at about $1,073 a month. Choose El Paso if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
El Paso is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 46% lower than Austin (87 vs a 100 national average). That gap shows up in how freely you walk at night and how much attention you spend on the car and the deadbolt.
Bottom line
Housing separates these metros first: $1,073/month in El Paso versus $1,729 in Austin. Median income reads $59,745 in El Paso and $93,658 in Austin, which matters when you stack rent against take-home pay.
El Paso rent at $1,073/month is still below Austin's $1,729, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Median income is $93,658 in Austin versus $59,745 in El Paso.
Pick El Paso when shaving $656 off rent at $1,073/month is the priority. Otherwise, Austin's case rests on $1,729/month rent with $93,658 local income.
Common questions
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Next steps
Quotes and listings for El Paso when you're ready to act.
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Austin and El Paso, plus other cities in TX.
