City comparison
Yes. El Paso's crime index is 87 versus 214 in Greensboro, and its violent crime index is 88 versus 235, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
El Paso is cheaper. Median rent is $1,073 a month versus $1,172 in Greensboro.
Safety is where El Paso and Greensboro split most clearly. El Paso scores 127 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 $1,172 in Greensboro.
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. Greensboro 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 crime gap is citywide. El Paso has rougher pockets and Greensboro has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
El Paso and Greensboro are 1,554 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,073 a month in El Paso to $1,172 a month in Greensboro, up $99 a month (9%).
Median household income goes from $59,745 in El Paso to $61,515 in Greensboro, up $1,770 (3%).
The crime index goes from 87 in El Paso to 214 in Greensboro, up 127 points (146%).
The move
Greensboro and El Paso are 1,554 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,172 a month in Greensboro to $1,073 a month in El Paso, down $99 a month (8%).
Median household income goes from $61,515 in Greensboro to $59,745 in El Paso, down $1,770 (3%).
The crime index goes from 214 in Greensboro to 87 in El Paso, down 127 points (59%).
El Paso, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Greensboro, NC
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing El Paso and Greensboro? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
8% cheaper
El Paso rent is 8% cheaper than Greensboro
El Paso
Winner$1,073/mo
Greensboro
$1,172/mo
Typical rent runs $1,073 a month in El Paso versus $1,172 in Greensboro, so El Paso is 8% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $99, or $1,188 a year: noticeable, but rent alone should not pick the city. Use this as a tie-breaker after you compare income, schools, and crime, unless you are already stretching every dollar.
Planning to buy in El Paso? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
3% higher
Greensboro's median income is 3% higher than El Paso
El Paso
$59,745
Greensboro
Winner$61,515
Median household income is $61,515 in Greensboro versus $59,745 in El Paso, so typical pay runs 3% higher in Greensboro (about $1,770 more household income a year). The income edge is modest. Treat it as extra negotiating context, not a reason to ignore rent, schools, or climate. Remote workers especially should not treat citywide pay as a personal raise if their employer will not localize salary.
Crime index
59% lower crime
El Paso's crime index is 59% lower than Greensboro
El Paso
Winner87 (100 = avg)
Greensboro
214 (100 = avg)
El Paso's crime index is 87 versus 214 in Greensboro (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 59% 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. Greensboro can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
33% more comfortable
El Paso weather is 33% more comfortable than Greensboro
El Paso
Winner66°F avg · 72°F highs · comfort 100/100
Greensboro
56°F avg · 67°F highs · comfort 75/100
El Paso averages about 66°F (72°F highs); Greensboro averages about 56°F (67°F highs). El Paso sits near 66°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Greensboro averages around 56°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. El Paso scores 33% 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 Greensboro if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
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 8% 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 (66°F) beat Greensboro on this page's weather index by 33%. Greensboro 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 59% lower than Greensboro (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
Greensboro is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 3% higher here ($61,515). Start with Greensboro if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Bottom line
Neither city is a free pass on neighborhood choice, but El Paso leads on safety (64/100 vs 37/100 in Greensboro). Typical rent is $1,073 in El Paso and $1,172 in Greensboro; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Safety still diverges (64/100 in El Paso vs 37/100 in Greensboro), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Typical rent stays $1,073 in El Paso and $1,172 in Greensboro.
Between El Paso and Greensboro, El Paso is ahead on safety — 64/100 safety versus 37/100. Lean Greensboro instead when you already know the Greensboro block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
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