El Paso TX

In El Paso, the rent-to-income burden runs around 22% — refreshingly manageable by national standards. Median income sits at $59,745 and median rent is $1,073/month. 50% of renters are cost-burdened (30%+ of income on housing). Landlords are winning; everyone else is treading water. Median home value: $184,500 — that's 3.1× the median income. 61% of households own their home — unusually high for a major US city. Residents put down roots here. Employment picture: 5.98% unemployment — a average employment landscape. Poverty rate: 18.4% — well above the national average. The headline economic numbers hide a bifurcated city. Average commute: 23 minutes — acceptable. Violent crime: 26.1/100k avg monthly rate (8576 reported); Property crime: 115.2/100k avg monthly rate (37803 reported). El Paso was founded in 1680 — that's 346 years of history baked into the streets. The city covers 256.3 sq miles at 2,654 people/sq mile — spread out. Elevation: 3,740 ft — high-altitude living. Known as: "Land of the Sun | Star of the Southwest | The Sun City". El Paso has 5 sister cities — cosmopolitan on paper, at least. RoastMyCity overall score: 67/100 — It Depends.