El Paso TX vs San Antonio TX — 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%
San Antonio, TX
Texas · Population: 1,458,954
- Median HH Income$62,917
- Median Home Price$251,035
- Unemployment5.8%
- Bachelor's+28.7%
Detailed Comparison
Demographics
Population
El Paso
678,147
San Antonio
1,458,954
San Antonio +
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
El Paso
N/A
San Antonio
N/A
Median Age
El Paso
34.1
El Paso +
San Antonio
34.6
Foreign Born
El Paso
22.3%
El Paso +
San Antonio
14.3%
White
El Paso
39.3%
San Antonio
48.3%
San Antonio +
Black
El Paso
3.6%
San Antonio
7.0%
San Antonio +
Asian
El Paso
1.5%
San Antonio
3.1%
San Antonio +
Hispanic
El Paso
81.3%
El Paso +
San Antonio
64.4%
Spanish at Home
El Paso
N/A
San Antonio
N/A
| Metric | El Paso, TX | San Antonio, TX | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 678,147 | 1,458,954 | San Antonio + |
| Pop. Density / sq miLower = more space | N/A | N/A | - |
| Median Age | 34.1 | 34.6 | El Paso + |
| Foreign Born | 22.3% | 14.3% | El Paso + |
| White | 39.3% | 48.3% | San Antonio + |
| Black | 3.6% | 7.0% | San Antonio + |
| Asian | 1.5% | 3.1% | San Antonio + |
| Hispanic | 81.3% | 64.4% | El Paso + |
| Spanish at Home | N/A | N/A | - |
Economy
Median HH Income
El Paso
$58,734
San Antonio
$62,917
San Antonio +
Per Capita Income
El Paso
$28,942
San Antonio
$32,983
San Antonio +
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
El Paso
$63,758
San Antonio
$63,758
Tie
Unemployment Rate
El Paso
6.2%
San Antonio
5.8%
San Antonio +
Poverty Rate
El Paso
18.4%
San Antonio
17.1%
San Antonio +
Bachelor's Degree+
El Paso
27.5%
San Antonio
28.7%
San Antonio +
| Metric | El Paso, TX | San Antonio, TX | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median HH Income | $58,734 | $62,917 | San Antonio + |
| Per Capita Income | $28,942 | $32,983 | San Antonio + |
| Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)BEA MSA-level | $63,758 | $63,758 | Tie |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2% | 5.8% | San Antonio + |
| Poverty Rate | 18.4% | 17.1% | San Antonio + |
| Bachelor's Degree+ | 27.5% | 28.7% | San Antonio + |
Housing
Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
El Paso
$235,994
El Paso +
San Antonio
$251,035
Homeownership Rate
El Paso
60.2%
El Paso +
San Antonio
52.4%
| Metric | El Paso, TX | San Antonio, TX | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home ValueZillow ZHVI / Census ACS | $235,994 | $251,035 | El Paso + |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.2% | 52.4% | El Paso + |
Safety
Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
El Paso
442
San Antonio
442
Tie
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
El Paso
2339
San Antonio
2339
Tie
| Metric | El Paso, TX | San Antonio, TX | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.) | 442 | 442 | Tie |
| Property Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.) | 2339 | 2339 | Tie |
Health
Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
El Paso
33.8%
El Paso +
San Antonio
34.9%
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
El Paso
16.4%
San Antonio
15.2%
San Antonio +
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
El Paso
17.2%
San Antonio
17.2%
Tie
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
El Paso
27.9%
San Antonio
24.5%
San Antonio +
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
El Paso
16.5%
San Antonio
16.0%
San Antonio +
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
El Paso
12.2%
El Paso +
San Antonio
13.0%
| Metric | El Paso, TX | San Antonio, TX | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Obesity RateCDC PLACES | 33.8% | 34.9% | El Paso + |
| Diabetes RateCDC PLACES | 16.4% | 15.2% | San Antonio + |
| Poor Mental HealthCDC PLACES — 14+ days/month | 17.2% | 17.2% | Tie |
| No Health InsuranceCDC PLACES | 27.9% | 24.5% | San Antonio + |
| Binge DrinkingCDC PLACES | 16.5% | 16.0% | San Antonio + |
| Current SmokersCDC PLACES | 12.2% | 13.0% | El Paso + |
Climate
Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
El Paso
64.3°F
El Paso +
San Antonio
68.5°F
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
El Paso
10.5 in
El Paso +
San Antonio
34.9 in
| Metric | El Paso, TX | San Antonio, TX | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Annual TempNOAA 1991–2020 normal | 64.3°F | 68.5°F | El Paso + |
| Annual PrecipitationNOAA 1991–2020 normal | 10.5 in | 34.9 in | El Paso + |
Air Quality
PM2.5 Annual Avg
EPA AQS (state-level est.)
El Paso
9.2 µg/m³
San Antonio
9.2 µg/m³
Tie
Good Air Days
AQI ≤ 50
El Paso
55.0%
San Antonio
55.0%
Tie
| Metric | El Paso, TX | San Antonio, TX | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 Annual AvgEPA AQS (state-level est.) | 9.2 µg/m³ | 9.2 µg/m³ | Tie |
| Good Air DaysAQI ≤ 50 | 55.0% | 55.0% | Tie |
Commute
Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
El Paso
25.1 min
El Paso +
San Antonio
26.5 min
| Metric | El Paso, TX | San Antonio, TX | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mean Commute TimeCensus ACS | 25.1 min | 26.5 min | El Paso + |
Which City is Right for You?
San Antonio leads in median household income at $62,917, while el Paso offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $235,994. On public safety, San Antonio is safer with a violent crime rate of 442 per 100,000 residents, compared to 442 in El Paso. San Antonio has a lower unemployment rate at 5.8%, and San Antonio has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 9.2 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, El Paso scores better with a lower obesity rate of 33.8%.
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