City comparison
No. El Paso's crime index is 87 versus 183 in Oklahoma City, and its violent crime index is 88 versus 197, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
El Paso is cheaper. Median rent is $1,073 a month versus $1,130 in Oklahoma City.
Safety is where Oklahoma City and El Paso split most clearly. El Paso scores 96 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,130 in Oklahoma City and $1,073 in El Paso.
This is a genuine split. Oklahoma City 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 crime gap is citywide. El Paso has rougher pockets and Oklahoma City has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Oklahoma City and El Paso are 576 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,130 a month in Oklahoma City to $1,073 a month in El Paso, down $57 a month (5%).
Median household income goes from $68,656 in Oklahoma City to $59,745 in El Paso, down $8,911 (13%).
The crime index goes from 183 in Oklahoma City to 87 in El Paso, down 96 points (52%).
The move
El Paso and Oklahoma City are 576 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,073 a month in El Paso to $1,130 a month in Oklahoma City, up $57 a month (5%).
Median household income goes from $59,745 in El Paso to $68,656 in Oklahoma City, up $8,911 (15%).
The crime index goes from 87 in El Paso to 183 in Oklahoma City, up 96 points (110%).
Oklahoma City, OK
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 Oklahoma City and El Paso? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
5% cheaper
El Paso rent is 5% cheaper than Oklahoma City
Oklahoma City
$1,130/mo
El Paso
Winner$1,073/mo
Typical rent runs $1,073 a month in El Paso versus $1,130 in Oklahoma City, so El Paso is 5% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $57, or $684 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
15% higher
Oklahoma City's median income is 15% higher than El Paso
Oklahoma City
Winner$68,656
El Paso
$59,745
Median household income is $68,656 in Oklahoma City versus $59,745 in El Paso, so typical pay runs 15% higher in Oklahoma City (about $8,911 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, Oklahoma City 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
52% lower crime
El Paso's crime index is 52% lower than Oklahoma City
Oklahoma City
183 (100 = avg)
El Paso
Winner87 (100 = avg)
El Paso's crime index is 87 versus 183 in Oklahoma City (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 52% 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. Oklahoma City can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Oklahoma City and El Paso are about even on typical weather.
Oklahoma City
68°F avg · 79°F highs · comfort 100/100
El Paso
72°F avg · 79°F highs · comfort 100/100
Oklahoma City averages about 68°F (79°F highs); El Paso averages about 72°F (79°F highs). Oklahoma City sits near 68°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
Oklahoma City is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 15% higher here ($68,656). Start with Oklahoma City 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 5% 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 52% lower than Oklahoma City (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 42/100 in Oklahoma City, with typical rent at $1,073 versus $1,130. I would vet the exact ZIP in Oklahoma City before trading 22 safety points for housing savings.
El Paso rent at $1,073/month is still below Oklahoma City's $1,130, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,073 in El Paso and $1,130 in Oklahoma City.
If safety drives your move, El Paso is the stronger match (64/100 safety versus 42/100). If an employer or family tie already points to Oklahoma City, treat $1,130/month rent and $68,656 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Oklahoma City and El Paso, plus other cities in OK and TX.
