Living in El Paso, TX

"Dangerous" is too broad a label for any city, but El Paso does sit above national averages on crime. The violent crime index is 117 and property crime hits 143 — both past the 100-point U.S. baseline. Plenty of residents live comfortably and safely, but they've usually chosen their neighborhoods carefully. If you're considering a move, visit first, drive around at night, and look up crime stats block by block. Data: FBI Uniform Crime Report.

By most measures, yes. The median rent of $1,041/month against a median household income of $58,734/year works out to a 21.3% rent-to-income ratio. Financial planners generally want that number under 30%, so El Paso clears the bar with room to spare. You'll have breathing space for savings, car payments, and the occasional splurge. Numbers from Census ACS 2023.

Worth considering, yes. At 22 minutes average, the commute in El Paso isn't brutal but it's not trivial either. 76.5% drive alone, 1.0% ride transit, and 7.8% work remotely. Where you live relative to your office will make a bigger difference than the city-wide average suggests.

Not particularly. The climate risk score is 30/100, which puts El Paso in the low-risk tier. Heat Wave, Drought, and Flood are the most relevant hazards, but none of them are frequent concerns. Standard insurance should have you covered. It's one less thing to worry about if you're comparing this city to higher-risk metros along the coast or in tornado alley. Data from FEMA disaster declarations and NOAA.

Mixed. The city-wide graduation rate is 80.0% and classrooms average 17 students per teacher. Some schools here are legitimately excellent — strong test scores, engaged communities, good resources. Others struggle. The gap between the best and worst is wider than you might expect. Do your homework on individual schools rather than relying on the city-wide number.

About what you'd expect anywhere. The average monthly utility bill in El Paso runs around $215 for electricity, gas, water, and sewer combined. The national average is $230, so you're right in line. Your actual bill depends on home size, insulation quality, and how much you run the AC or heater — but no surprises here.

For most people, no. The median AQI of 52 puts El Paso in the "Moderate" category — fine for healthy adults, though sensitive groups (asthma, COPD, young kids) should pay attention on higher days. 215 days per year qualify as "Good." PM10 is the leading pollutant. Worth monitoring if you have respiratory conditions, but not a reason to avoid the city. Daily data at AirNow.gov.

A fair amount. The total effective tax rate is roughly 10.6% when you combine income, property, and sales taxes. Sales tax alone is 8.3%. That's close to the national average — not punishing, not light. If you're relocating from a low-tax state, run the numbers for your income level before committing. The difference can add up to thousands per year.

Mostly, yes. The system scores 80/100, with 0 health-based violations on record and a "low" lead risk rating. That's a solid track record. Most residents drink tap water without issues. If you're in an older building with pre-1986 plumbing, a basic filter is a cheap precaution. For detailed contaminant info, check EWG's Tap Water Database.

Everything on this page is built from public government sources: rent and income figures from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023); commute and transportation data from Census ACS tables B08303 and B08006; crime rates from the FBI Uniform Crime Report; climate risk assessments using FEMA disaster declarations and NOAA storm records; air quality measurements from the EPA's Air Quality System database; water quality compliance data from EPA records and the EWG Tap Water Database; school data from the National Center for Education Statistics; utility cost estimates from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. We refresh each dataset monthly through an automated pipeline and cross-check for anomalies. No surveys, no user-submitted guesses — just official federal data presented in a way that's actually useful for people researching a move.