City comparison
No. Plano's crime index is 62 versus 87 in El Paso, and its violent crime index is 43 versus 88, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
El Paso is cheaper. Median rent is $1,073 a month versus $1,841 in Plano.
The income gap between El Paso and Plano is significant: $59,745 median household versus $112,253. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,073 in El Paso and $1,841 in Plano.
This is a genuine split. El Paso wins on cost of living and Plano wins on the job market and safety. 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 Plano are 577 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,073 a month in El Paso to $1,841 a month in Plano, up $768 a month (72%).
Median household income goes from $59,745 in El Paso to $112,253 in Plano, up $52,508 (88%).
The crime index goes from 87 in El Paso to 62 in Plano, down 25 points (29%).
The move
Plano and El Paso are 577 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,841 a month in Plano to $1,073 a month in El Paso, down $768 a month (42%).
Median household income goes from $112,253 in Plano to $59,745 in El Paso, down $52,508 (47%).
The crime index goes from 62 in Plano to 87 in El Paso, up 25 points (40%).
El Paso, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Plano, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing El Paso and Plano? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
42% cheaper
El Paso rent is 42% cheaper than Plano
El Paso
Winner$1,073/mo
Plano
$1,841/mo
Typical rent runs $1,073 a month in El Paso versus $1,841 in Plano, so El Paso is 42% cheaper. That's roughly $768/month back in your pocket ($9,216/year). Over five years that's $46,080 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 Plano, 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 Plano? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
88% higher
Plano's median income is 88% higher than El Paso
El Paso
$59,745
Plano
Winner$112,253
Median household income is $112,253 in Plano versus $59,745 in El Paso, so typical pay runs 88% higher in Plano (about $52,508 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, Plano 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
29% lower crime
Plano's crime index is 29% lower than El Paso
El Paso
87 (100 = avg)
Plano
Winner62 (100 = avg)
Plano's crime index is 62 versus 87 in El Paso (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 29% lower in Plano. 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, Plano is the easier city. El Paso 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 Plano are about even on typical weather.
El Paso
66°F avg · 72°F highs · comfort 100/100
Plano
69°F avg · 77°F highs · comfort 100/100
El Paso averages about 66°F (72°F highs); Plano averages about 69°F (77°F highs). El Paso sits near 66°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Plano sits near 69°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
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to El Paso
El Paso is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 42% 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.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Plano is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 88% higher here ($112,253). Start with Plano if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Plano is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 29% lower than El Paso (62 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
Housing separates these metros first: $1,073/month in El Paso versus $1,841 in Plano. Median income reads $59,745 in El Paso and $112,253 in Plano, which matters when you stack rent against take-home pay.
El Paso rent at $1,073/month is still below Plano's $1,841, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Safety scores read 64/100 in El Paso and 75/100 in Plano.
El Paso clears the bar on housing cost in this dataset. Plano deserves a serious look only when your $112,253 income offer in Plano outweighs saving $768/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 Plano, plus other cities in TX.
