El Paso TX vs Saint Paul MN — Cost of Living, Crime & Income Comparison 2026

Updated May 2026 · Source: US Census ACS 5-Year (2023), FBI CDE (2023), BLS OEWS (2024)

El Paso, TX

Texas · Population: 678,147

  • Median HH Income$58,734
  • Median Home Price$235,994
  • Unemployment6.2%
  • Bachelor's+27.5%

Saint Paul, MN

Minnesota · Population: 307,762

  • Median HH Income$73,055
  • Median Home Price$297,021
  • Unemployment4.9%
  • Bachelor's+43.5%

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population
El Paso
678,147
El Paso +
Saint Paul
307,762
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
El Paso
N/A
Saint Paul
N/A
Median Age
El Paso
34.1
Saint Paul
33.5
Saint Paul +
Foreign Born
El Paso
22.3%
El Paso +
Saint Paul
18.7%
White
El Paso
39.3%
Saint Paul
53.2%
Saint Paul +
Black
El Paso
3.6%
Saint Paul
16.2%
Saint Paul +
Asian
El Paso
1.5%
Saint Paul
17.9%
Saint Paul +
Hispanic
El Paso
81.3%
El Paso +
Saint Paul
9.1%
Spanish at Home
El Paso
N/A
Saint Paul
N/A

Economy

Median HH Income
El Paso
$58,734
Saint Paul
$73,055
Saint Paul +
Per Capita Income
El Paso
$28,942
Saint Paul
$41,594
Saint Paul +
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
El Paso
$63,758
Saint Paul
$69,467
Saint Paul +
Unemployment Rate
El Paso
6.2%
Saint Paul
4.9%
Saint Paul +
Poverty Rate
El Paso
18.4%
Saint Paul
15.8%
Saint Paul +
Bachelor's Degree+
El Paso
27.5%
Saint Paul
43.5%
Saint Paul +

Housing

Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
El Paso
$235,994
El Paso +
Saint Paul
$297,021
Homeownership Rate
El Paso
60.2%
El Paso +
Saint Paul
53.2%

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
El Paso
442
Saint Paul
284
Saint Paul +
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
El Paso
2339
Saint Paul
1992
Saint Paul +

Health

Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
El Paso
33.8%
Saint Paul
N/A
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
El Paso
16.4%
Saint Paul
N/A
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
El Paso
17.2%
Saint Paul
N/A
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
El Paso
27.9%
Saint Paul
N/A
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
El Paso
16.5%
Saint Paul
N/A
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
El Paso
12.2%
Saint Paul
N/A

Climate

Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
El Paso
64.3°F
Saint Paul
N/A
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
El Paso
10.5 in
Saint Paul
N/A

Air Quality

PM2.5 Annual Avg
EPA AQS (state-level est.)
El Paso
9.2 µg/m³
Saint Paul
8.1 µg/m³
Saint Paul +
Good Air Days
AQI ≤ 50
El Paso
55.0%
Saint Paul
75.0%
Saint Paul +

Commute

Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
El Paso
25.1 min
Saint Paul
24.1 min
Saint Paul +

Which City is Right for You?

Saint Paul leads in median household income at $73,055, while el Paso offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $235,994. On public safety, Saint Paul is safer with a violent crime rate of 284 per 100,000 residents, compared to 442 in El Paso. Saint Paul has a lower unemployment rate at 4.9%, and Saint Paul has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 8.1 µg/m³).

Compare More Cities

About El Paso & Saint Paul