City comparison
No. El Paso's crime index is 87 versus 188 in Dallas, and its violent crime index is 88 versus 179, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
El Paso is cheaper. Median rent is $1,073 a month versus $1,472 in Dallas.
Safety is where Dallas and El Paso split most clearly. El Paso scores 101 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,472 in Dallas and $1,073 in El Paso.
This is a genuine split. Dallas 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
Dallas and El Paso are 570 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,472 a month in Dallas to $1,073 a month in El Paso, down $399 a month (27%).
Median household income goes from $70,518 in Dallas to $59,745 in El Paso, down $10,773 (15%).
The crime index goes from 188 in Dallas to 87 in El Paso, down 101 points (54%).
The move
El Paso and Dallas are 570 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,073 a month in El Paso to $1,472 a month in Dallas, up $399 a month (37%).
Median household income goes from $59,745 in El Paso to $70,518 in Dallas, up $10,773 (18%).
The crime index goes from 87 in El Paso to 188 in Dallas, up 101 points (116%).
Dallas, 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 Dallas and El Paso? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
27% cheaper
El Paso rent is 27% cheaper than Dallas
Dallas
$1,472/mo
El Paso
Winner$1,073/mo
Typical rent runs $1,073 a month in El Paso versus $1,472 in Dallas, so El Paso is 27% cheaper. That's roughly $399/month back in your pocket ($4,788/year). Over five years that's $23,940 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 Dallas, 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
18% higher
Dallas's median income is 18% higher than El Paso
Dallas
Winner$70,518
El Paso
$59,745
Median household income is $70,518 in Dallas versus $59,745 in El Paso, so typical pay runs 18% higher in Dallas (about $10,773 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, Dallas 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
54% lower crime
El Paso's crime index is 54% lower than Dallas
Dallas
188 (100 = avg)
El Paso
Winner87 (100 = avg)
El Paso's crime index is 87 versus 188 in Dallas (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 54% 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. Dallas can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Dallas and El Paso are about even on typical weather.
Dallas
73°F avg · 82°F highs · comfort 100/100
El Paso
72°F avg · 79°F highs · comfort 100/100
Dallas averages about 73°F (82°F highs); El Paso averages about 72°F (79°F highs). Dallas sits near 73°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
Dallas is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 18% higher here ($70,518). Start with Dallas 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 27% 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 54% lower than Dallas (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
Neither city is a free pass on neighborhood choice, but El Paso leads on safety (64/100 vs 41/100 in Dallas). Typical rent is $1,073 in El Paso and $1,472 in Dallas; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Dallas still pays more locally ($70,518 median income vs $59,745), which can offset the lease if your field pays Dallas rates.
Median income is $70,518 in Dallas versus $59,745 in El Paso.
Between Dallas and El Paso, El Paso is ahead on safety — 64/100 safety versus 41/100. Lean Dallas instead when you already know the Dallas block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
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