The Town FilesEl Paso, Texas
City in El Paso County · population 678,815 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $184,500
- Household income
- $59,745
- Jan low / Jul high
- 35° / 96°
- Snow a year
- 3 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 1
- Median age
- 34.5
El Paso is a city of 678,815 people in El Paso County, Texas. The median home is worth $184,500, close to the typical Texas town ($184,100). It ranks more walkable than 97% of Texas towns, more vibrant than 95% of Texas towns, more of a college town than 95% of Texas towns.
How El Paso ranks
Percentile among Texas towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Texas towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in El Paso is worth $184,500, close to the typical Texas town ($184,100). Homes cost about 3.1 times the median household income of $59,745, which is more affordable than 45% of Texas towns. Median rent is $1,073 a month. 60.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | El Paso | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $184,500 | $184,100 |
| Median rent | $1,073 | $1,086 |
| Median household income | $59,745 | $65,842 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.1× | 2.9× |
| Homeownership | 60.8% | 72.9% |
| Median year built | 1984 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.7% | — |
Who lives in El Paso
| People | El Paso | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.5 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.3% | 15.6% |
| Under 18 | 24.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 28.1% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 18.4% | 13.1% |
| Veterans | 8.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 22.4% | — |
| Work from home | 8.9% | 7.8% |
| Average commute | 23.4 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.3% | 89.2% |
Weather in El Paso
July highs average 95.8°F and January lows 34.5°F. About 8.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 2.8 inches of snow (typical Texas town: 0.2 in). Expect about 117 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 42 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of El Paso since 1950, compared with 21 for the typical Texas town. The strongest, an F0, struck on June 14, 1988 about 9.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 14, 1988.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 64 times; the largest was 3.25 inches on October 22, 1974.
Severe weather in El Paso County since 1996
El Paso County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, other.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| February 19, 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | DR-4586: Severe Winter Storms |
| February 14, 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | EM-3554: Severe Winter Storm |
| March 25, 2020 | Biological | DR-4485: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3458: Covid-19 |
| September 10, 2008 | Hurricane | EM-3294: Hurricane Ike |
Jobs and pay in El Paso County
El Paso County had 333,908 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,230 a year. Unemployment was 4.4% in 2023; in El Paso itself the ACS puts it at 6%.
Public schools in El Paso
195 public schools with 137,270 students, about 16.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| FRANKLIN H S | 9-12 | 3,048 | 18.9 |
| EASTLAKE H S | 9-12 | 2,947 | 23.8 |
| PEBBLE HILLS H S | 9-12 | 2,912 | 23.5 |
| MONTWOOD H S | 9-12 | 2,568 | 24.0 |
| SOCORRO H S | 9-12 | 2,562 | 22.7 |
| EASTWOOD H S | 9-12 | 2,374 | 16.4 |
| CORONADO H S | 9-12 | 2,350 | 19.0 |
| AMERICAS H S | 9-12 | 2,188 | 23.0 |
| EL DORADO H S | 9-12 | 2,188 | 22.3 |
| BEL AIR H S | 9-12 | 1,876 | 15.9 |
| DEL VALLE H S | 9-12 | 1,836 | 16.0 |
| CHAPIN H S | 9-12 | 1,815 | 17.8 |
Towns near El Paso
- Fort Bliss, TX3.4 mi · 11,260 people · home —
- Sunland Park, NM10.1 mi · 16,702 people · home $215,200
- Canutillo, TX11.1 mi · 6,212 people · home $106,600
- Westway, TX11.5 mi · 3,811 people · home $106,000
- Vinton, TX12.3 mi · 2,684 people · home $109,100
- Chaparral, NM13.7 mi · 16,551 people · home $109,300
- Anthony, TX13.7 mi · 3,671 people · home $168,200
- Santa Teresa, NM14.3 mi · 5,044 people · home $215,100
El Paso questions
Is El Paso, Texas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, El Paso scores better for retirees than 21% of Texas towns and quieter than 2%. 14.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 34.5).
How much does a house cost in El Paso?
The median owner-occupied home in El Paso is valued at $184,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $59,745, so homes cost about 3.1 times income. Median rent is $1,073 a month.
What is the weather like in El Paso?
July highs average 95.8°F and January lows 34.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 8.8 inches of precipitation a year and 2.8 inches of snow.
Does El Paso get tornadoes?
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of El Paso since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F0 on June 14, 1988. The typical Texas town has had 21.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)