City comparison
Yes. El Paso's crime index is 87 versus 151 in Reno, and its violent crime index is 88 versus 156, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
El Paso is cheaper. Median rent is $1,073 a month versus $1,556 in Reno.
Safety is where El Paso and Reno split most clearly. El Paso scores 64 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 $1,556 in Reno.
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. Reno 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 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 Reno are 919 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,073 a month in El Paso to $1,556 a month in Reno, up $483 a month (45%).
Median household income goes from $59,745 in El Paso to $80,760 in Reno, up $21,015 (35%).
The crime index goes from 87 in El Paso to 151 in Reno, up 64 points (74%).
The move
Reno and El Paso are 919 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,556 a month in Reno to $1,073 a month in El Paso, down $483 a month (31%).
Median household income goes from $80,760 in Reno to $59,745 in El Paso, down $21,015 (26%).
The crime index goes from 151 in Reno to 87 in El Paso, down 64 points (42%).
El Paso, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Reno, NV
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing El Paso and Reno? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
31% cheaper
El Paso rent is 31% cheaper than Reno
El Paso
Winner$1,073/mo
Reno
$1,556/mo
Typical rent runs $1,073 a month in El Paso versus $1,556 in Reno, so El Paso is 31% cheaper. That's roughly $483/month back in your pocket ($5,796/year). Over five years that's $28,980 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 Reno, 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
35% higher
Reno's median income is 35% higher than El Paso
El Paso
$59,745
Reno
Winner$80,760
Median household income is $80,760 in Reno versus $59,745 in El Paso, so typical pay runs 35% higher in Reno (about $21,015 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, Reno 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
42% lower crime
El Paso's crime index is 42% lower than Reno
El Paso
Winner87 (100 = avg)
Reno
151 (100 = avg)
El Paso's crime index is 87 versus 151 in Reno (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 42% 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. Reno can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
9% more comfortable
El Paso weather is 9% more comfortable than Reno
El Paso
Winner66°F avg · 72°F highs · comfort 100/100
Reno
62°F avg · 71°F highs · comfort 92/100
El Paso averages about 66°F (72°F highs); Reno averages about 62°F (71°F highs). El Paso sits near 66°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Reno averages around 62°F. El Paso scores 9% 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 Reno 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 31% 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 Reno on this page's weather index by 9%. Reno 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 42% lower than Reno (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
Reno is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 35% higher here ($80,760). Start with Reno if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Bottom line
Reno carries the heavier crime signal on this page (47/100 safety vs 64/100 in El Paso). That 17-point spread matters more than the $483 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Reno still pays more locally ($80,760 median income vs $59,745), which can offset the lease if your field pays Reno rates.
Median income is $80,760 in Reno versus $59,745 in El Paso.
If safety drives your move, El Paso is the stronger match (64/100 safety versus 47/100). If an employer or family tie already points to Reno, treat $1,556/month rent and $80,760 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
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