City comparison
Yes. El Paso's crime index is 87 versus 132 in Arlington, 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 $1,470 in Arlington.
Safety is where El Paso and Arlington split most clearly. El Paso scores 45 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,073 in El Paso and $1,470 in Arlington.
This is a genuine split. El Paso wins on cost of living and safety and Arlington 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 Arlington are 552 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,073 a month in El Paso to $1,470 a month in Arlington, up $397 a month (37%).
Median household income goes from $59,745 in El Paso to $75,171 in Arlington, up $15,426 (26%).
The crime index goes from 87 in El Paso to 132 in Arlington, up 45 points (52%).
The move
Arlington and El Paso are 552 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,470 a month in Arlington to $1,073 a month in El Paso, down $397 a month (27%).
Median household income goes from $75,171 in Arlington to $59,745 in El Paso, down $15,426 (21%).
The crime index goes from 132 in Arlington to 87 in El Paso, down 45 points (34%).
El Paso, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Arlington, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing El Paso and Arlington? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
27% cheaper
El Paso rent is 27% cheaper than Arlington
El Paso
Winner$1,073/mo
Arlington
$1,470/mo
Typical rent runs $1,073 a month in El Paso versus $1,470 in Arlington, so El Paso is 27% cheaper. That's roughly $397/month back in your pocket ($4,764/year). Over five years that's $23,820 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 Arlington, 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
26% higher
Arlington's median income is 26% higher than El Paso
El Paso
$59,745
Arlington
Winner$75,171
Median household income is $75,171 in Arlington versus $59,745 in El Paso, so typical pay runs 26% higher in Arlington (about $15,426 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, Arlington 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
34% lower crime
El Paso's crime index is 34% lower than Arlington
El Paso
Winner87 (100 = avg)
Arlington
132 (100 = avg)
El Paso's crime index is 87 versus 132 in Arlington (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 34% 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. Arlington 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 Arlington are about even on typical weather.
El Paso
66°F avg · 72°F highs · comfort 100/100
Arlington
67°F avg · 74°F highs · comfort 100/100
El Paso averages about 66°F (72°F highs); Arlington averages about 67°F (74°F highs). El Paso sits near 66°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Arlington sits near 67°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 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 34% lower than Arlington (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
Arlington is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 26% higher here ($75,171). Start with Arlington if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Bottom line
Housing separates these metros first: $1,073/month in El Paso versus $1,470 in Arlington. Median income reads $59,745 in El Paso and $75,171 in Arlington, which matters when you stack rent against take-home pay.
El Paso rent at $1,073/month is still below Arlington's $1,470, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Median income is $75,171 in Arlington versus $59,745 in El Paso.
Pick El Paso when shaving $397 off rent at $1,073/month is the priority. Otherwise, Arlington's case rests on $1,470/month rent with $75,171 local income.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for El Paso and Arlington, plus other cities in TX.
