City comparison
Yes. El Paso's crime index is 87 versus 99 in Irving, and its violent crime index is 88 versus 78, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
El Paso is cheaper. Median rent is $1,073 a month versus $1,619 in Irving.
The income gap between El Paso and Irving is significant: $59,745 median household versus $81,830. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,073 in El Paso and $1,619 in Irving.
This is a genuine split. El Paso wins on cost of living and safety and Irving 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 Irving are 562 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,073 a month in El Paso to $1,619 a month in Irving, up $546 a month (51%).
Median household income goes from $59,745 in El Paso to $81,830 in Irving, up $22,085 (37%).
The crime index goes from 87 in El Paso to 99 in Irving, up 12 points (14%).
The move
Irving and El Paso are 562 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,619 a month in Irving to $1,073 a month in El Paso, down $546 a month (34%).
Median household income goes from $81,830 in Irving to $59,745 in El Paso, down $22,085 (27%).
The crime index goes from 99 in Irving to 87 in El Paso, down 12 points (12%).
El Paso, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Irving, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing El Paso and Irving? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
34% cheaper
El Paso rent is 34% cheaper than Irving
El Paso
Winner$1,073/mo
Irving
$1,619/mo
Typical rent runs $1,073 a month in El Paso versus $1,619 in Irving, so El Paso is 34% cheaper. That's roughly $546/month back in your pocket ($6,552/year). Over five years that's $32,760 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 Irving, 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
37% higher
Irving's median income is 37% higher than El Paso
El Paso
$59,745
Irving
Winner$81,830
Median household income is $81,830 in Irving versus $59,745 in El Paso, so typical pay runs 37% higher in Irving (about $22,085 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, Irving 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
12% lower crime
El Paso's crime index is 12% lower than Irving
El Paso
Winner87 (100 = avg)
Irving
99 (100 = avg)
El Paso's crime index is 87 versus 99 in Irving (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 12% lower in El Paso. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in El Paso, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in Irving. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
El Paso and Irving are about even on typical weather.
El Paso
66°F avg · 72°F highs · comfort 100/100
Irving
70°F avg · 78°F highs · comfort 100/100
El Paso averages about 66°F (72°F highs); Irving averages about 70°F (78°F highs). El Paso sits near 66°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Irving sits near 70°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 34% 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 12% lower than Irving (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
Irving is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 37% higher here ($81,830). Start with Irving if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Bottom line
On rent alone, El Paso undercuts Irving by $546/month ($1,073 vs $1,619). I would not pick Irving on housing cost without a job that clears that spread.
El Paso rent at $1,073/month is still below Irving's $1,619, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Safety scores read 64/100 in El Paso and 60/100 in Irving.
Between El Paso and Irving, El Paso is ahead on housing cost — $1,073/month rent against $1,619. Lean Irving instead when your $81,830 income offer in Irving outweighs saving $546/month in El Paso.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for El Paso and Irving, plus other cities in TX.
