

El Paso, TX vs Houston, TX
El Paso, TX comes out ahead of Houston, TX on 27 of 36 statistics where one end is better, to 9. El Paso, TX leads on Crime & Safety and Economics.
36 statistics with a better end, compared
Each counts once for the place that ranks better. Totals that mostly track population are left out.
- Wins
- 27
- Avg. percentile
- 61
- Categories led
- 2
- Wins
- 9
- Avg. percentile
- 33
- Categories led
- 0
At a glance
Headline statistics, each ranked among all US cities.
| Statistic | El Paso, TX | Houston, TX |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 684,495 24th of 477 | 2,419,191 4th of 477 |
| Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | $59,745 327th of 434 | $64,813 276th of 434 |
| Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | $184,500 76th of 434 | $277,800 188th of 434 |
| Poverty Rate (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | 18.4% 308th of 434 | 19.9% 333rd of 434 |
| Price Level (All Items)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities) | 89.9 50th of 460 | 98.6 tied 224th of 460 |
| Average Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS) | $51,870 448th of 460 | $67,610 tied 186th of 460 |
| Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | $1,073 108th of 434 | $1,361 tied 215th of 434 |
| Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI) | 287.0 145th of 395 | 886.1 356th of 395 |
By category
Average percentile on each category's widely ranked statistics.
- Crime & SafetyEl Paso, TX · 5 statistics
- EconomicsEl Paso, TX · 14 statistics
Biggest differences
The 19 statistics where their rankings differ most, among rankings of at least 239 US cities.
| Statistic | El Paso, TX | Houston, TX |
|---|---|---|
| Burglary Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI) | 112.3 81st of 395 | 484.6 344th of 395 |
| Property Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI) | 1,327.0 114th of 395 | 3,807.2 360th of 395 |
| Average Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS) | $51,870 448th of 460 | $67,610 tied 186th of 460 |
| Price Level (Goods)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities) | 93.8 tied 39th of 460 | 100.6 tied 300th of 460 |
| Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI) | 287.0 145th of 395 | 886.1 356th of 395 |
| Price Level (Utilities)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities) | 82.6 79th of 460 | 95.3 tied 290th of 460 |
| Median Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS) | $39,510 450th of 460 | $49,410 tied 242nd of 460 |
| Price Level (All Items)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities) | 89.9 50th of 460 | 98.6 tied 224th of 460 |
| Price Level (Housing Rents)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities) | 71.2 70th of 460 | 104.5 tied 234th of 460 |
| Murder Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI) | 3.8 204th of 395 | 11.3 340th of 395 |
| Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | $184,500 76th of 434 | $277,800 188th of 434 |
| Bachelor’s Degree or Higher (% of Adults 25+)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | 28.1% 296th of 434 | 36.6% 187th of 434 |
| Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | $1,073 108th of 434 | $1,361 tied 215th of 434 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI) | 264.0 254th of 395 | 520.3 350th of 395 |
| Average Commute (Minutes)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | 23.4 241st of 434 | 27.2 336th of 434 |
| Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | $59,745 327th of 434 | $64,813 276th of 434 |
| Homes with Broadband Internet (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | 89.3% 312th of 434 | 90.1% 284th of 434 |
| Poverty Rate (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | 18.4% 308th of 434 | 19.9% 333rd of 434 |
| Price Level (Other Services)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities) | 96.2 tied 66th of 460 | 95.6 tied 47th of 460 |
Quick answers
- Which is better, El Paso, TX or Houston, TX?
- El Paso, TX comes out ahead of Houston, TX on 27 of 36 statistics where one end is better, to 9. El Paso, TX leads on Crime & Safety and Economics. Statistics where neither end is better, and totals that mostly track population, are not counted.
- Which has more people, El Paso, TX or Houston, TX?
- El Paso, TX has a population of 684,495 (24th of 477 US cities) and Houston, TX has 2,419,191 (4th of 477).
- How do El Paso, TX and Houston, TX compare on Median Household Income?
- Median Household Income: El Paso, TX $59,745 (327th of 434), Houston, TX $64,813 (276th of 434) among US cities. Houston, TX ranks better.
- How do El Paso, TX and Houston, TX compare on Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)?
- Median Home Value (Capped at $2M): El Paso, TX $184,500 (76th of 434), Houston, TX $277,800 (188th of 434) among US cities. El Paso, TX ranks better.
- Where does El Paso, TX beat Houston, TX most clearly?
- El Paso, TX ranks far ahead on Burglary Rate (per 100K) (Crime Rates by City (FBI)): 112.3 vs 484.6; Property Crime Rate (per 100K) (Crime Rates by City (FBI)): 1,327.0 vs 3,807.2; Price Level (Goods) (Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)): 93.8 vs 100.6.
- Where does Houston, TX beat El Paso, TX most clearly?
- Houston, TX ranks far ahead on Average Annual Wage, All Jobs (Average Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS)): $67,610 vs $51,870; Median Annual Wage, All Jobs (Average Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS)): $49,410 vs $39,510; Bachelor’s Degree or Higher (% of Adults 25+) (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): 36.6% vs 28.1%.
More matchups
Other comparisons with El Paso, TX or Houston, TX.
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