City comparison
No. El Paso's crime index is 87 versus 282 in Nashville, and its violent crime index is 88 versus 309, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
El Paso is cheaper. Median rent is $1,073 a month versus $1,586 in Nashville.
Safety is where Nashville and El Paso split most clearly. El Paso scores 195 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,586 in Nashville and $1,073 in El Paso.
This is a genuine split. Nashville 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
Nashville and El Paso are 1,167 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,586 a month in Nashville to $1,073 a month in El Paso, down $513 a month (32%).
Median household income goes from $77,371 in Nashville to $59,745 in El Paso, down $17,626 (23%).
The crime index goes from 282 in Nashville to 87 in El Paso, down 195 points (69%).
The move
El Paso and Nashville are 1,167 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,073 a month in El Paso to $1,586 a month in Nashville, up $513 a month (48%).
Median household income goes from $59,745 in El Paso to $77,371 in Nashville, up $17,626 (30%).
The crime index goes from 87 in El Paso to 282 in Nashville, up 195 points (224%).
Nashville, TN
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 Nashville and El Paso? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
32% cheaper
El Paso rent is 32% cheaper than Nashville
Nashville
$1,586/mo
El Paso
Winner$1,073/mo
Typical rent runs $1,073 a month in El Paso versus $1,586 in Nashville, so El Paso is 32% cheaper. That's roughly $513/month back in your pocket ($6,156/year). Over five years that's $30,780 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 Nashville, 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
30% higher
Nashville's median income is 30% higher than El Paso
Nashville
Winner$77,371
El Paso
$59,745
Median household income is $77,371 in Nashville versus $59,745 in El Paso, so typical pay runs 30% higher in Nashville (about $17,626 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, Nashville 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
69% lower crime
El Paso's crime index is 69% lower than Nashville
Nashville
282 (100 = avg)
El Paso
Winner87 (100 = avg)
El Paso's crime index is 87 versus 282 in Nashville (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 69% 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. Nashville can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Nashville and El Paso are about even on typical weather.
Nashville
66°F avg · 75°F highs · comfort 100/100
El Paso
72°F avg · 79°F highs · comfort 100/100
Nashville averages about 66°F (75°F highs); El Paso averages about 72°F (79°F highs). Nashville sits near 66°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
Nashville is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 30% higher here ($77,371). Start with Nashville 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 32% 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 69% lower than Nashville (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
Crime and safety tilt toward El Paso: El Paso scores 64/100 versus 28/100 in Nashville, with typical rent at $1,073 versus $1,586. I would vet the exact ZIP in Nashville before trading 36 safety points for housing savings.
Nashville still pays more locally ($77,371 median income vs $59,745), which can offset the lease if your field pays Nashville rates.
Median income is $77,371 in Nashville versus $59,745 in El Paso.
Pick El Paso when you want the stronger safety signal (64/100). Otherwise, Nashville's case rests on a Nashville ZIP you trust at $1,586 rent.
Common questions
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Next steps
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