El Paso or Houston: which is better?
US metro area: head-to-head comparison
El Paso wins on more indicators: 4 of 11 against 3.
- Money: El Paso 3:1
- Climate and risks: Houston 1:2
All indicators weigh the same. This is a score based on data, not advice on where to live: different people have different circumstances.
El Paso
Indicator
Houston
Money
Better: El Paso (3 : 1)Per capita income
higher is better
✗$49,273
202436% lower
✓$76,916
202456% higher
Typical rent
lower is better
✓$1,521
2026-09-307% lower
✗$1,638
2026-09-308% higher
Typical home value
lower is better
✓$233,011
2026-09-3023% lower
✗$302,832
2026-09-3030% higher
Price level
lower is better
✓89.9 100 = US average
20249% lower
✗98.6 100 = US average
202410% higher
Climate and risks
Better: Houston (1 : 2)Air: median AQI
lower is better
✗67 AQI
20246% higher
✓63 AQI
20246% lower
Days with unhealthy air
tie
63 days per year
2024
63 days per year
2024
Hot days (max ≥ +30 °C)
lower is better
✗165 days per year
2016-20251% higher
✓163 days per year
2016-20251% lower
Frost days (min ≤ −10 °C)
tie
0 days per year
2016-2025
0 days per year
2016-2025
Severe frost (min ≤ −20 °C)
tie
0.0 days per year
2016-2025
0.0 days per year
2016-2025
Ice days (max ≤ 0 °C)
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
0 days per year
2016-2025
0 days per year
2016-2025
Heating degree days
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
1,014 °C·days per year
2016-2025
578 °C·days per year
2016-2025
Cooling degree days
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
1,767 °C·days per year
2016-2025
2,085 °C·days per year
2016-2025
Rainy days
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
28 days per year
2016-2025
81 days per year
2016-2025
Snowfall days
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
1 days per year
2016-2025
0 days per year
2016-2025
Annual precipitation
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
206 mm per year
2016-2025
1,335 mm per year
2016-2025
Daylight on December 21
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
10.1 hours
December 21 and June 21 (does not depend on the year)
10.2 hours
December 21 and June 21 (does not depend on the year)
Daylight on June 21
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
14.2 hours
December 21 and June 21 (does not depend on the year)
14.1 hours
December 21 and June 21 (does not depend on the year)
Air humidity
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
32 %
2021-2025
71 %
2021-2025
Muggy days (dew point ≥ +20 °C)
lower is better
✓0 days per year
2021-2025100% lower
✗158 days per year
2021-202578800% higher
Distance to the sea
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
576 km
2006-2025
34 km
2006-2025
Earthquakes M4.5+ within 100 km
tie
0.00 per year
2006-2025
0.00 per year
2006-2025
Urban environment
no winnerPopulation
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
879,392 people
2024
7,796,182 people
2024
A winner is named only for indicators with a known “better / worse” direction. Population and other neutral indicators are shown without a winner. Outdated and missing values are not counted. Details for each place: El Paso, Houston.