El Paso, TX Local Data & Statistics

State: TX

Total population: 680,130 Household income: $59,745 Rent: $1,073

Overview

Total population

680,130

Rent

$1,073

Year built

1984

Household income

$59,745

Per capita income

$29,956

Poverty rate

18.4%

Unemployment rate

3.6%

Household size

2.7 persons

Rent over 30% of income

50.1%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available, with the exception of the unemployment rate, which is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). ACS 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Demographics

State

Texas

Total population

680,130

Adults over 25

439,005

Total households

245,346

Household size

2.7 persons

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Income & Poverty

Household income

$59,745

Per capita income

$29,956

Poverty rate

18.4%

Unemployment rate

3.6%

Rent over 30% of income

50.1%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Housing

Rent

$1,073

Year built

1984

Households that rent

39.2%

Households that own

60.8%

Rooms per home (all homes)

5.3

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Race

White

29.8%

Black

3.6%

Asian

1.5%

Two or more races

46.8%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino

81.2%

Not Hispanic or Latino

18.8%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Commute

Commute rate

91.1%

Commute time to work

23 mins

Work from home

8.9%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Education

Less than high school

35.4%

High school graduate or GED

24.4%

Some college or associate degree

12%

Bachelor’s degree or higher

28.1%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Comparison of El Paso, TX with: Texas United States

El Paso, TX

Total population680,130

Rent$1,073

Year built1984

Household income$59,745

Per capita income$29,956

Poverty rate18.4%

Unemployment rate3.6%

Texas State

Total population30,188,424

Rent$1,403

Year built1992

Household income$78,476

Per capita income$40,752

Poverty rate13.8%

Unemployment rate4.1%

United States

Total population334,922,499

Rent$1,413

Year built1980

Household income$80,734

Per capita income$44,673

Poverty rate12.5%

Unemployment rate4%

Metric	CityEl Paso, TX	StateTexas	CountryUnited States
Total population	680,130	30,188,424	334,922,499
Rent	$1,073	$1,403	$1,413
Year built	1984	1992	1980
Household income	$59,745	$78,476	$80,734
Per capita income	$29,956	$40,752	$44,673
Poverty rate	18.4%	13.8%	12.5%
Unemployment rate	3.6%	4.1%	4%

View the complete comparison of El Paso, TX, Texas and United States →

Summary for El Paso, TX

El Paso is located in Texas.

Rent & Income

In El Paso, the typical monthly rent is $1,073 and the typical household income is $59,745. Rent here is lower than in both Texas and the U.S., and household income is also lower than in both. The estimated poverty rate is 18.4%, which is higher than in both Texas and national.

Housing & Affordability

This area is primarily owner-occupied, with renters accounting for about 39.2% of households. About 50.1% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing, indicating high cost burden.

Education & Employment

Educational attainment is moderate, with about 28.1% of adults holding a bachelor’s degree or higher. The local unemployment rate is 3.6%, which is lower than both Texas and the national rate.

El Paso, TX — Rent vs Household Income

El Paso, TX — Poverty vs Unemployment

How El Paso, TX compares in Texas (71 places)

Metric	This place	Rank	Starts from	Statewide range
Rent	$1,073	10 / 71	from lower rent	$923 – $2,231
Household income	$59,745	60 / 71	from higher income	$46,354 – $161,235
Poverty rate	18.4%	54 / 71	from lower poverty	3.6% – 29.2%
Unemployment rate	3.6%	43 / 71	from lower unemployment	2.6% – 8.2%

Rankings are calculated among cities and communities in Texas with total population > 50,000 (year 2024).

Detailed Ranking Explanation for El Paso, TX

Rent

Rent prices put El Paso in 10th place among 71 large communities in Texas. Across Texas, rents range from $923 in Brownsville, TX up to $2,231 in Flower Mound, TX.

Household income

Looking at household income, El Paso places 60th out of 71 significant areas. Incomes across Texas range between $46,354 in Port Arthur, TX and $161,235 in Flower Mound, TX.

Poverty rate

For poverty rates, El Paso is ranked 54th among 71 major areas. Across Texas, poverty runs from 3.6% in Frisco, TX to 29.2% in College Station, TX.

Unemployment rate

For joblessness, El Paso ranks 43rd out of 71 significant areas. Across Texas, unemployment varies from 2.6% in Amarillo, TX to 8.2% in Port Arthur, TX.

💰 Rent in El Paso, TX (with Utilities)

Estimated Monthly Rent: $1,073 ℹ️ What’s Included:
✅ Base rent, electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuels
❌ Not included: internet, cable TV, renter's insurance, parking

💡 What does this rent estimate mean?

Explanation: This estimate shows what renters typically pay each month for housing, including the apartment or home and essential utilities such as heat, water, and electricity. Even when utilities are billed separately, an estimated average cost for utilities is included, in line with the U.S. Census Bureau’s (ACS) definition of gross rent.

Included in this number: Rent plus electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuel.

Not included: Internet, cable, parking, renter’s insurance, or furniture rental.

Note: This cost does not depend on the number of people living in the home.

👨‍👧‍👦 Household Income in El Paso, TX

Annual Household Income: $59,745

💡 What does Household Income mean?

Definition: This represents the middle value of all household incomes in this area — half of households earn less, and half earn more.

Includes: wages, salaries, self-employment income, Social Security, pensions, investments, unemployment, public assistance, and rental income.

Does NOT include: capital gains, non-cash benefits (like food stamps), or tax refunds.

Household = any group of people (or a single person) living in the same housing unit.

Example: A couple earning $40,000 and $30,000 together have a household income of $70,000. If that's in the middle of all local incomes, it's the value shown here.

📉 Poverty Rate in El Paso, TX

Estimated Rate: 18.4%

💡 What does the Poverty Rate represent?

Definition: The percentage of people in this area living below the federal poverty threshold.

How it works: The threshold is a dollar amount set by the U.S. Census Bureau that varies by family size and age. If a household's income is below that level, everyone in it is included in this rate.

Example: In a town of 10,000 people, if 1,500 have incomes below the poverty line, the poverty rate is 15%.

Note: This statistic only includes people living in households; it does not count those in student housing, military barracks, or nursing homes.

🏘️ Renter vs. Owner Households in El Paso, TX

In El Paso, TX, households that rent: 96,177 (39.2%)

📊 What does the renter household percentage reveal about this area?

Household Type	Count	Share
Renter-Occupied	96,177	39.2%
Owner-Occupied	149,169	60.8%

Definition: This is the percentage of households that rent their home rather than own it. It includes only occupied housing units.

Why it matters: Areas with a high share of renter households often have younger populations, higher mobility, and different housing needs compared to mostly owner-occupied areas.

Example: If 65% of homes in an area are renter-occupied, it means 65 out of every 100 households rent their home.

📉 Renters Spending Over 30% of Income on Rent in El Paso, TX

In El Paso, TX, cost-burdened renters (households spending over 30% of income on housing): 48,175 (50.1%)

🏚️ What Does It Mean When Renters Spend Over 30% of Their Income on Housing?

Household Group	Households	Share
Cost-burdened renters (over 30%)	48,175	50.1%
Other renter households	48,002	49.9%
Total renter households	96,177	100%

Shares are calculated as a percentage of renter households.

This shows how many renters in this area are considered cost-burdened — meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on housing (rent and basic utilities).

It’s a sign that housing might be unaffordable in the area or that lower-income residents may be struggling with rent.

Data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.

📊 Education Levels in El Paso, TX

Less than High School: 155,460 people (35.4%)

Includes adults who did not complete high school.

High School Graduate or GED: 107,175 people (24.4%)

Includes adults whose highest education is a high school diploma or GED.

Some College or Associate Degree: 52,862 people (12%)

Includes adults who attended college without completing a bachelor’s degree (some college or associate degree).

Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 123,508 people (28.1%)

Includes adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher (bachelor’s, master’s, professional, or doctoral degree).

👥 Total Adults (25+): 439,005

📊 Unemployment Rate in El Paso, TX

Estimated Rate: 3.6%

💡 What does Unemployment Rate mean?

Definition: The unemployment rate is the percentage of people in the labor force who do not have a job but are actively looking for one.

Labor Force = Employed + Unemployed (aged 16+ and actively participating in the workforce).

Formula: (Unemployed ÷ Labor Force) × 100

Does NOT include: People who are retired, students not looking for work, homemakers, or otherwise not seeking employment.

Example: If there are 1000 people in the labor force and 80 are unemployed, then the unemployment rate is 8%.

Similar Population

Washington, DC672,079 Oklahoma City, OK688,693 Boston, MA663,972 Las Vegas, NV650,873 Denver, CO713,734 Portland, OR642,715 Detroit, MI636,644 Memphis, TN629,063 Seattle, WA741,440 Baltimore, MD577,193

ℹ️ Have questions about how these statistics are calculated? See our data methodology & FAQs

Source: ACS 5-Year Estimates (U.S. Census Bureau) — unemployment rate from BLS. Some values are derived metrics.