City comparison
No. El Paso's crime index is 87 versus 270 in Houston, and its violent crime index is 88 versus 294, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
El Paso is cheaper. Median rent is $1,073 a month versus $1,361 in Houston.
Safety is where Houston and El Paso split most clearly. El Paso scores 183 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,361 in Houston and $1,073 in El Paso.
This is a genuine split. Houston wins on the job market and El Paso wins on cost of living 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
Houston and El Paso are 674 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,361 a month in Houston to $1,073 a month in El Paso, down $288 a month (21%).
Median household income goes from $64,813 in Houston to $59,745 in El Paso, down $5,068 (8%).
The crime index goes from 270 in Houston to 87 in El Paso, down 183 points (68%).
The move
El Paso and Houston are 674 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,073 a month in El Paso to $1,361 a month in Houston, up $288 a month (27%).
Median household income goes from $59,745 in El Paso to $64,813 in Houston, up $5,068 (8%).
The crime index goes from 87 in El Paso to 270 in Houston, up 183 points (210%).
Houston, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
El Paso, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Houston and El Paso? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
21% cheaper
El Paso rent is 21% cheaper than Houston
Houston
$1,361/mo
El Paso
Winner$1,073/mo
Typical rent runs $1,073 a month in El Paso versus $1,361 in Houston, so El Paso is 21% cheaper. That's roughly $288/month back in your pocket ($3,456/year). Over five years that's $17,280 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 Houston, 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
8% higher
Houston's median income is 8% higher than El Paso
Houston
Winner$64,813
El Paso
$59,745
Median household income is $64,813 in Houston versus $59,745 in El Paso, so typical pay runs 8% higher in Houston (about $5,068 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
68% lower crime
El Paso's crime index is 68% lower than Houston
Houston
270 (100 = avg)
El Paso
Winner87 (100 = avg)
El Paso's crime index is 87 versus 270 in Houston (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 68% 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. Houston can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Houston and El Paso are about even on typical weather.
Houston
77°F avg · 85°F highs · comfort 100/100
El Paso
72°F avg · 79°F highs · comfort 100/100
Houston averages about 77°F (85°F highs); El Paso averages about 72°F (79°F highs). Houston sits near 77°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. El Paso sits near 72°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
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Houston is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 8% higher here ($64,813). Start with Houston if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
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 21% 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 68% lower than Houston (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.
Bottom line
Houston carries the heavier crime signal on this page (30/100 safety vs 64/100 in El Paso). That 34-point spread matters more than the $288 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Houston still pays more locally ($64,813 median income vs $59,745), which can offset the lease if your field pays Houston rates.
Median income is $64,813 in Houston versus $59,745 in El Paso.
El Paso clears the bar on safety in this dataset. Houston deserves a serious look only when you already know the Houston block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Houston and El Paso, plus other cities in TX.
