City comparison
Yes. El Paso's crime index is 87 versus 143 in Anaheim, and its violent crime index is 88 versus 165, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
El Paso is cheaper. Median rent is $1,073 a month versus $2,175 in Anaheim.
The income gap between El Paso and Anaheim is significant: $59,745 median household versus $95,227. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,073 in El Paso and $2,175 in Anaheim.
This is a genuine split. El Paso wins on cost of living and safety and Anaheim wins on the job market. 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
El Paso and Anaheim are 679 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,073 a month in El Paso to $2,175 a month in Anaheim, up $1,102 a month (103%).
Median household income goes from $59,745 in El Paso to $95,227 in Anaheim, up $35,482 (59%).
The crime index goes from 87 in El Paso to 143 in Anaheim, up 56 points (64%).
The move
Anaheim and El Paso are 679 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,175 a month in Anaheim to $1,073 a month in El Paso, down $1,102 a month (51%).
Median household income goes from $95,227 in Anaheim to $59,745 in El Paso, down $35,482 (37%).
The crime index goes from 143 in Anaheim to 87 in El Paso, down 56 points (39%).
El Paso, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Anaheim, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing El Paso and Anaheim? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
51% cheaper
El Paso rent is 51% cheaper than Anaheim
El Paso
Winner$1,073/mo
Anaheim
$2,175/mo
Typical rent runs $1,073 a month in El Paso versus $2,175 in Anaheim, so El Paso is 51% cheaper. That's roughly $1,102/month back in your pocket ($13,224/year). Over five years that's $66,120 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 Anaheim, 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
Anaheim's median income is 59% higher than El Paso
El Paso
$59,745
Anaheim
Winner$95,227
Median household income is $95,227 in Anaheim versus $59,745 in El Paso, so typical pay runs 59% higher in Anaheim (about $35,482 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, Anaheim 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
39% lower crime
El Paso's crime index is 39% lower than Anaheim
El Paso
Winner87 (100 = avg)
Anaheim
143 (100 = avg)
El Paso's crime index is 87 versus 143 in Anaheim (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 39% 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. Anaheim can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
El Paso and Anaheim are about even on typical weather.
El Paso
66°F avg · 72°F highs · comfort 100/100
Anaheim
76°F avg · 83°F highs · comfort 100/100
El Paso averages about 66°F (72°F highs); Anaheim averages about 76°F (83°F highs). El Paso sits near 66°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Anaheim sits near 76°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
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 51% 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 39% lower than Anaheim (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.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Anaheim is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 59% higher here ($95,227). Start with Anaheim if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Bottom line
Anaheim runs $2,175/month while El Paso sits at $1,073 — roughly 51% lower on typical leases. Unless your offer letter is Anaheim-sized, that monthly gap compounds fast.
El Paso rent at $1,073/month is still below Anaheim's $2,175, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Safety scores read 64/100 in El Paso and 49/100 in Anaheim.
Most movers who prioritize housing cost land in El Paso; Anaheim only makes sense when your offer letter is already written for Anaheim at $95,227 income.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for El Paso and Anaheim, plus other cities in TX and CA.
