Albuquerque, NM vs El Paso, TX
Side-by-side comparison · Updated Nov 2026
Report card
| Category | AlbuquerqueAlbuquerque, NM | El PasoEl Paso, TX | Same grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| ReloScoreOverall grade | |||
| Affluence | Average | Soft | |
| Cost of Living | |||
| Crime | High Risk | Moderate | |
| Education | |||
| Quality of Life | Good | Good | |
| Sovereignty | Self-Reliant | Self-Reliant | Same |
| Strategic | Vulnerable | Vulnerable |
Grades rate each place against all US places. How grades work →
Comparison summary
At 2.3 people per household, Albuquerque, NM and El Paso, TX differ on several key measures in 2023 Census figures and 2025 crime data. The average household size in El Paso is 2.8, 21% larger than Albuquerque's. Property crime per 100,000 people is 3,969 in Albuquerque versus 1,338 in El Paso, a difference of 3.0× higher, placing Albuquerque in the 97th percentile and El Paso in the 47th. Violent crime per 100,000 people is 1,013 in Albuquerque and 287 in El Paso, with Albuquerque 3.5× higher and at the 98th percentile compared to El Paso's 60th.
Healthcare access scores differ substantially: Albuquerque scores 100/100 (90th percentile) while El Paso scores 59/100 (23rd percentile), a 41-point difference. The median age in Albuquerque is 38.7 years, 4.6 years older than El Paso's 34.1, with Albuquerque in the 55th percentile and El Paso in the 19th. Job growth over the past year was +1.0% in Albuquerque and +2.5% in El Paso, a 1.5-point difference, placing El Paso in the 85th percentile and Albuquerque in the 46th. The state and local tax burden is 10.2% in Albuquerque (54th percentile) and 8.6% in El Paso (10th percentile), a 1.6-point difference.
AI-generated and may contain mistakes. Verify any details that matter before acting on them. Generated Nov 2026.
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Where they differ most
Where they're close
Cost of living
| Metric | Albuquerque, NM | El Paso, TX | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| COL indexCost of living index (100 = US) | 9444th pctl | 7826th pctl | Cost of living index (100 = US): Albuquerque, NM 94; El Paso, TX 78; Albuquerque is 21% higher. |
| Home valueMedian home value | $266,70047th pctl | $171,70020th pctl | Median home value: Albuquerque, NM $266,700; El Paso, TX $171,700; Albuquerque is 55% higher. |
| Median rent | $1,08540th pctl | $1,04136th pctl | About the same |
| Household incomeMedian household income | $65,60439th pctl | $58,73428th pctl | Median household income: Albuquerque, NM $65,604; El Paso, TX $58,734; Albuquerque is 12% higher. |
| Comfortable (single)Comfortable income (single) | $76,16872nd pctl | $49,03744th pctl | Comfortable income (single): Albuquerque, NM $76,168; El Paso, TX $49,037; Albuquerque is 55% higher. |
| Comfortable (family)Comfortable income (family of 4) | $111,96772nd pctl | $72,08444th pctl | Comfortable income (family of 4): Albuquerque, NM $111,967; El Paso, TX $72,084; Albuquerque is 55% higher. |
| AffordabilityHousing affordability | Affordable | Affordable | Housing affordability: Albuquerque, NM B+; El Paso, TX A+; El Paso is graded higher. |
Housing-adjusted salary
the same housing budget in El Paso needs about
$62,200
Based only on local housing costs and incomes (cost-of-living index 94 vs 78). Leaves out taxes, groceries and transport. How it works →
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, ReloMaps cost-of-living index (2023–2024).
Jobs & income
| Metric | Albuquerque, NM | El Paso, TX | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment | 3.7%52nd pctl | 4.2%74th pctl | About the same |
| Job growthJob growth (YoY) | +1.0%46th pctl | +2.5%85th pctl | Job growth (YoY): Albuquerque, NM +1.0%; El Paso, TX +2.5%; El Paso is 1.5 points higher. |
| Per-capita income | $39,11754th pctl | $28,94217th pctl | Per-capita income: Albuquerque, NM $39,117; El Paso, TX $28,942; Albuquerque is 35% higher. |
| Poverty rate | 16.0%70th pctl | 18.4%78th pctl | Poverty rate: Albuquerque, NM 16.0%; El Paso, TX 18.4%; El Paso is 2.4 points higher. |
| CommuteAverage commute | 22.2 min42nd pctl | 23.7 min52nd pctl | Average commute: Albuquerque, NM 22.2 min; El Paso, TX 23.7 min; El Paso is 2 minutes longer. |
| Work from home | 12.8%62nd pctl | 7.8%32nd pctl | Work from home: Albuquerque, NM 12.8%; El Paso, TX 7.8%; Albuquerque is 5.0 points higher. |
| OpportunityEconomic opportunity | Stable | Stable | About the same |
| Job market | Strong | Strong | About the same |
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, BLS (2023).
Safety
| Metric | Albuquerque, NM | El Paso, TX | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimeViolent crime per 100k | 1,01398th pctl | 28761st pctl | Violent crime per 100k: Albuquerque, NM 1,013; El Paso, TX 287; Albuquerque is 3.5 times higher. |
| Property crimeProperty crime per 100k | 3,96997th pctl | 1,33848th pctl | Property crime per 100k: Albuquerque, NM 3,969; El Paso, TX 1,338; Albuquerque is 3.0 times higher. |
| 5-yr trendViolent crime, 5-yr trend | Falling | Rising | |
| Crime & safety | Dangerous | Safe | Crime & safety: Albuquerque, NM F; El Paso, TX C+; El Paso is graded higher. |
| Traffic safety | SafeCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | Very SafeCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | Traffic safety: Albuquerque, NM B-; El Paso, TX A-; El Paso is graded higher. |
Data: FBI Crime Data, NHTSA FARS (2025).
Quality of life
| Metric | Albuquerque, NM | El Paso, TX | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air quality | ModerateCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | ModerateCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | About the same |
| HealthcareHealthcare access | ExcellentCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | StrongCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | Healthcare access: Albuquerque, NM A+; El Paso, TX B-; Albuquerque is graded higher. |
| Tap water | Poor | Poor | About the same |
| Power grid | ReliableState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | ReliableState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | About the same |
| HomesteadingHomesteading potential | Workable | Prime | About the same |
| Disaster riskNational disaster risk | High-Risk | High-Risk | About the same |
4 rows not shown (data not available)
4 rows not shown: climate comfort isn't available for El Paso, TX; broadband, walkability and local food access aren't available for either place.
Data: EPA AirData, NOAA NCEI, County Health Rankings, FCC, Geoapify POIs, EPA SDWIS, EIA, OpenStreetMap, FEMA National Risk Index (2022–2024).
Taxes & laws
| Metric | Albuquerque, NM | El Paso, TX | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taxes | ModerateState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | FriendlyState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | Taxes: Albuquerque, NM C+; El Paso, TX B+; El Paso is graded higher. |
| HomeschoolHomeschool rules | moderateState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | noneState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | |
| FirearmsFirearm laws grade | B-State figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | AState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | |
| Property rightsProperty rights (eminent domain) | A-State figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | B-State figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | |
| EnergyEnergy production | Net exporterState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | Net exporterState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. |
Data: Tax Foundation, state statutes.
Strategic location
How exposed each place is to large-scale disruption, based on distance from big cities, likely targets and natural hazards.
| Metric | Albuquerque, NM | El Paso, TX | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Large cityNearest large city | 2 mi2nd pctl | 0 mi0th pctl | Nearest large city: Albuquerque, NM 2 mi; El Paso, TX 0 mi; Albuquerque is higher (El Paso: 0 mi). |
| Target proximity | Weak | Weak | Target proximity: Albuquerque, NM C-; El Paso, TX C+; El Paso is graded higher. |
| To borderDistance to international border | 230 mi27th pctl | 0 mi0th pctl | Distance to international border: Albuquerque, NM 230 mi; El Paso, TX 0 mi; Albuquerque is 229 mi higher. |
| To coastDistance to coastline | 376 mi60th pctl | 167 mi39th pctl | Distance to coastline: Albuquerque, NM 376 mi; El Paso, TX 167 mi; Albuquerque is 2.3 times higher. |
| StrategicStrategic location | Vulnerable | Vulnerable | About the same |
Data: ReloMaps strategic assessment.
People
| Metric | Albuquerque, NM | El Paso, TX | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 562,48899th pctl | 678,14799th pctl | Population: Albuquerque, NM 562,488; El Paso, TX 678,147; El Paso is 21% larger. |
| DensityPopulation density (per sq mi) | 3,00478th pctl | 2,62073rd pctl | Population density (per sq mi): Albuquerque, NM 3,004; El Paso, TX 2,620; Albuquerque is 15% higher. |
| Median age | 38.755th pctl | 34.119th pctl | Median age: Albuquerque, NM 38.7; El Paso, TX 34.1; Albuquerque is 4.6 years older. |
| Bachelor's+Bachelor's degree or higher | 38.7%64th pctl | 27.5%38th pctl | Bachelor's degree or higher: Albuquerque, NM 38.7%; El Paso, TX 27.5%; Albuquerque is 11.2 points higher. |
| Household sizeAverage household size | 2.330th pctl | 2.880th pctl | Average household size: Albuquerque, NM 2.3; El Paso, TX 2.8; El Paso is 21% larger. |
More about Albuquerque's residents · El Paso's residents
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year (2023).
Politics
Information only. Not part of any grade, difference or summary on this page.
| Measure | AlbuquerqueAlbuquerque, NM | El PasoEl Paso, TX |
|---|---|---|
| Cook PVI | D+7 | D+11 |
| 2024 presidential | D +13.0 pts | D +16.0 pts |
Full politics data: Albuquerque · El Paso
Moving between Albuquerque and El Paso
- Median rent: $1,085 in Albuquerque, $1,041 in El Paso
- Median home value: $266,700 in Albuquerque, $171,700 in El Paso
- Cost of living index (100 = US): 94 in Albuquerque, 78 in El Paso
- Median household income: $65,604 in Albuquerque, $58,734 in El Paso
- Comfortable income (family of 4): $111,967 in Albuquerque, $72,084 in El Paso
- Unemployment: 3.7% in Albuquerque, 4.2% in El Paso
- Average commute: 22.2 min in Albuquerque, 23.7 min in El Paso
- Violent crime per 100k: 1,013 in Albuquerque, 287 in El Paso
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More places like Albuquerque and El Paso
- Data: Cost of living: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, ReloMaps cost-of-living index (2023–2024).
- Data: Jobs & income: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, BLS (2023).
- Data: Safety: FBI Crime Data, NHTSA FARS (2025).
- Data: Quality of life: EPA AirData, NOAA NCEI, County Health Rankings, FCC, Geoapify POIs, EPA SDWIS, EIA, OpenStreetMap, FEMA National Risk Index (2022–2024).
- Data: Taxes & laws: Tax Foundation, state statutes.
- Data: Strategic location: ReloMaps strategic assessment.
- Data: People: U.S. Census ACS 5-year (2023).
* Values derived from national, state, county, city and local statistics and may differ in a specific area.
Narrative content on this page is AI-generated and may contain mistakes. Verify any details that matter before acting on them.
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