City comparison
Yes. El Paso's crime index is 87 versus 352 in St Louis, and its violent crime index is 88 versus 376, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
St Louis is cheaper. Median rent is $997 a month versus $1,073 in El Paso.
Safety is where El Paso and St Louis split most clearly. El Paso scores 265 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 $997 in St Louis.
El Paso is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. St Louis 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 St Louis has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
El Paso and St Louis are 1,033 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,073 a month in El Paso to $997 a month in St Louis, down $76 a month (7%).
Median household income goes from $59,745 in El Paso to $56,160 in St Louis, down $3,585 (6%).
The crime index goes from 87 in El Paso to 352 in St Louis, up 265 points (305%).
The move
St Louis and El Paso are 1,033 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $997 a month in St Louis to $1,073 a month in El Paso, up $76 a month (8%).
Median household income goes from $56,160 in St Louis to $59,745 in El Paso, up $3,585 (6%).
The crime index goes from 352 in St Louis to 87 in El Paso, down 265 points (75%).
El Paso, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
St Louis, MO
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing El Paso and St Louis? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
7% cheaper
St Louis rent is 7% cheaper than El Paso
El Paso
$1,073/mo
St Louis
Winner$997/mo
Typical rent runs $997 a month in St Louis versus $1,073 in El Paso, so St Louis is 7% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $76, or $912 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
6% higher
El Paso's median income is 6% higher than St Louis
El Paso
Winner$59,745
St Louis
$56,160
Median household income is $59,745 in El Paso versus $56,160 in St Louis, so typical pay runs 6% higher in El Paso (about $3,585 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
75% lower crime
El Paso's crime index is 75% lower than St Louis
El Paso
Winner87 (100 = avg)
St Louis
352 (100 = avg)
El Paso's crime index is 87 versus 352 in St Louis (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 75% 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. St Louis can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
25% more comfortable
El Paso weather is 25% more comfortable than St Louis
El Paso
Winner66°F avg · 72°F highs · comfort 100/100
St Louis
58°F avg · 67°F highs · comfort 80/100
El Paso averages about 66°F (72°F highs); St Louis averages about 58°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. St Louis averages around 58°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. El Paso scores 25% 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 St Louis if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 6% higher ($59,745), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 66°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
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 75% lower than St Louis (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
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to St Louis
St Louis is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 7% cheaper here at about $997 a month. Choose St Louis if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Bottom line
St Louis carries the heavier crime signal on this page (22/100 safety vs 64/100 in El Paso). That 42-point spread matters more than the $76 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Safety still diverges (64/100 in El Paso vs 22/100 in St Louis), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Median income is $59,745 in El Paso versus $56,160 in St Louis.
El Paso clears the bar on safety in this dataset. St Louis deserves a serious look only when you already know the St Louis block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
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Nearby research
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