City comparison
No. El Paso's crime index is 87 versus 271 in Denver, and its violent crime index is 88 versus 272, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
El Paso is cheaper. Median rent is $1,073 a month versus $1,831 in Denver.
Safety is where Denver and El Paso split most clearly. El Paso scores 184 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,831 in Denver and $1,073 in El Paso.
El Paso is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Denver makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone El Paso is the stronger move.
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
Denver and El Paso are 558 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,831 a month in Denver to $1,073 a month in El Paso, down $758 a month (41%).
Median household income goes from $94,718 in Denver to $59,745 in El Paso, down $34,973 (37%).
The crime index goes from 271 in Denver to 87 in El Paso, down 184 points (68%).
The move
El Paso and Denver are 558 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,073 a month in El Paso to $1,831 a month in Denver, up $758 a month (71%).
Median household income goes from $59,745 in El Paso to $94,718 in Denver, up $34,973 (59%).
The crime index goes from 87 in El Paso to 271 in Denver, up 184 points (211%).
Denver, CO
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 Denver and El Paso? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
41% cheaper
El Paso rent is 41% cheaper than Denver
Denver
$1,831/mo
El Paso
Winner$1,073/mo
Typical rent runs $1,073 a month in El Paso versus $1,831 in Denver, so El Paso is 41% cheaper. That's roughly $758/month back in your pocket ($9,096/year). Over five years that's $45,480 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 Denver, 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
59% higher
Denver's median income is 59% higher than El Paso
Denver
Winner$94,718
El Paso
$59,745
Median household income is $94,718 in Denver versus $59,745 in El Paso, so typical pay runs 59% higher in Denver (about $34,973 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, Denver 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
68% lower crime
El Paso's crime index is 68% lower than Denver
Denver
271 (100 = avg)
El Paso
Winner87 (100 = avg)
El Paso's crime index is 87 versus 271 in Denver (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 68% 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. Denver can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
16% more comfortable
El Paso weather is 16% more comfortable than Denver
Denver
60°F avg · 70°F highs · comfort 86/100
El Paso
Winner72°F avg · 79°F highs · comfort 100/100
Denver averages about 60°F (70°F highs); El Paso averages about 72°F (79°F highs). Denver averages around 60°F. El Paso sits near 72°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. El Paso scores 16% closer to the 65-80°F comfort band on this page, so it is the easier default for year-round outdoor errands and evenings. Choose Denver if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Denver is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 59% higher here ($94,718). Start with Denver if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Fit check
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
El Paso is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 41% 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.
Pick El Paso if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (72°F) beat Denver on this page's weather index by 16%. Denver may pay more or cost less, but El Paso is the city where the forecast fights you less.
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 68% lower than Denver (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
Crime and safety tilt toward El Paso: El Paso scores 64/100 versus 30/100 in Denver, with typical rent at $1,073 versus $1,831. I would vet the exact ZIP in Denver before trading 34 safety points for housing savings.
Denver still pays more locally ($94,718 median income vs $59,745), which can offset the lease if your field pays Denver rates.
Median income is $94,718 in Denver versus $59,745 in El Paso.
El Paso clears the bar on safety in this dataset. Denver deserves a serious look only when you already know the Denver block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
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