1st Advantage MortgageThe median El Paso County household earns $59,806, and 19% of residents live below the poverty line. Whatever your own numbers, compare written offers on APR, fees and total cost, and verify the lender is licensed in Texas before sharing details.
On this page
- El Paso County, TX: the basics
- Rent, home values and ownership in El Paso County
- Household income in El Paso County
- Work, industries and travel time in El Paso County
- Places inside El Paso County
- The counties around El Paso County
- Budget math at the El Paso County median
- Reading the El Paso County data as a borrower
- More El Paso County figures
- A El Paso County borrower's checklist
- Who licenses lenders for El Paso County residents
- More guides for El Paso County
- Frequently asked questions
El Paso County, TX: the basics
With an estimated 870,779 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), El Paso County ranks 10th of 254 in Texas for population. Packed into 1,014 square miles, that is close to 859 residents for every square mile of land. It is one of the counties that make up the El Paso, TX metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). The Census Bureau counts 19 places in the county (7 incorporated, 12 census-designated); the largest is El Paso, with about 680,130 residents, or 78% of the county.
Rent, home values and ownership in El Paso County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $1,079 in El Paso County versus $1,403 statewide. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 54% of renter households here. With a median value of $180,400, a typical El Paso County house costs 3.0 times what the median household earns in a year. Owners occupy 64% of homes. Half the housing stock was built before 1988.
| Home costs | El Paso County | Texas | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,079/mo | $1,403/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $180,400 | $283,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 64% | 63% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 54% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 33% | 29% | n/a |
When half or more of renters are already stretched, a new payment needs a stress test: what happens if a paycheck is a week late?
Household income in El Paso County
Half of El Paso County households take in less than $59,806 a year and half take in more, 24% below the Texas median of $78,476. That places it 169th among Texas's 254 county-level areas.
| Household income | El Paso County | vs Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 30.3% | +8.9 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 43.3% | +3.9 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 20.7% | -6.1 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.7% | -6.8 pts |
Some 30% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 26% have six-figure incomes. Census counts 18.7% of El Paso County residents in poverty, against 13.8% across Texas. None of these numbers decides a El Paso County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Work, industries and travel time in El Paso County
By the Census industry count, 26% of employed El Paso County residents work in education and health care and 11% in retail trade. Compared with Texas, the county leans toward education and health care (26% against 22%). Averaged over the five survey years, 6.0% of the labor force was out of work and looking. Long commutes are the exception here: 9% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. 6.4% of households have no vehicle.
| Industry | Share of El Paso County workers | vs Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 25.6% | +3.9 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.0% | 0.0 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 11.0% | -1.9 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 9.6% | +1.2 pts |
| Construction | 7.8% | -0.7 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 7.6% | +0.9 pts |
Shorter commutes usually mean lower vehicle costs, which can leave more room for a payment, or for paying a loan off early.
Places inside El Paso County
19 Census places fall mainly inside El Paso County; the 14 biggest are below. They account for 806,787 residents, leaving about 7% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Incomes vary by place: $65,991 at the median in Vinton, $34,876 in Sparks. Linked names have their own city guide; this page covers every other El Paso County community.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| El Paso | city | 680,130 | $59,745 | $1,073 | 12 mi |
| Socorro | city | 37,123 | $54,744 | $1,032 | 9 mi |
| Horizon City | city | 23,668 | $65,737 | $1,280 | 7 mi |
| Fort Bliss | CDP | 11,460 | $57,111 | $1,654 | 9 mi |
| San Elizario | city | 10,116 | $49,977 | $917 | 13 mi |
| Homestead Meadows South | CDP | 6,660 | $49,327 | $865 | 5 mi |
| Canutillo | CDP | 5,962 | $40,682 | $838 | 24 mi |
| Homestead Meadows North | CDP | 5,795 | $63,088 | $865 | 7 mi |
| Fabens | CDP | 4,818 | $42,533 | $606 | 18 mi |
| Anthony | town | 4,580 | $54,588 | $1,066 | 26 mi |
| Sparks | CDP | 4,134 | $34,876 | $1,080 | 6 mi |
| Westway | CDP | 3,484 | $44,852 | $1,152 | 24 mi |
| Agua Dulce | CDP | 2,697 | $47,200 | $1,084 | 10 mi |
| Vinton | village | 2,585 | $65,991 | $918 | 25 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
The counties around El Paso County
Six nearby counties, 53 to 109 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. None of the six report a higher median household income than El Paso County; Culberson County is highest at $58,777 and Luna County lowest at $36,419. The list crosses into New Mexico, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| El Paso County | - | $59,806 | $1,079/mo | 64% |
| Doña Ana County, NM | 53 mi | $56,848 | $934/mo | 65% |
| Hudspeth County, TX | 55 mi | $48,600 | $705/mo | 74% |
| Otero County, NM | 65 mi | $55,876 | $962/mo | 67% |
| Luna County, NM | 93 mi | $36,419 | $650/mo | 71% |
| Culberson County, TX | 103 mi | $58,777 | $1,043/mo | 70% |
| Sierra County, NM | 109 mi | $41,600 | $729/mo | 72% |
Budget math at the El Paso County median
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to El Paso County's medians:
- $4,984 a month: gross income for a household at the El Paso County median
- Housing at the median rent of $1,079 uses 22%
- With a 43% ceiling, about $1,064 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
Two-income households and single earners in El Paso County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Reading the El Paso County data as a borrower
Based on the El Paso County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Medical bills. 22% of El Paso County residents are uninsured. Before borrowing for care, ask the provider about financial assistance and payment plans.
- 19% below poverty. Emergency aid, payment plans and counseling (list) come first.
- Renters under pressure. When 54% pay 30% or more for rent, the smallest loan that solves the problem is the right size.
More El Paso County figures
College graduates make up 26% of the adult population. The uninsured rate is 21.6%, against 17.1% for Texas.
| Measure | El Paso County | Texas statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 33.6 | 35.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 25.9% | 33.8% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 18.9% | 14.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 21.6% | 17.1% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.4% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 8.8% | 14.4% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 18.7% | 13.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 6.0% | 5.3% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | El Paso County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 22.7% |
| 15 to 29 min | 45.7% |
| 30 to 44 min | 22.5% |
| 45 to 59 min | 5.1% |
| 60+ min | 4.1% |
A El Paso County borrower's checklist
A short checklist for El Paso County borrowers:
- Price the El Paso County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Confirm the first due date before setting up autopay.
Who licenses lenders for El Paso County residents
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with El Paso County borrowers answers to the Texas Department of Banking. Consumer lending in Texas is also overseen by the Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. More on Texas: Texas personal loans.
More guides for El Paso County
More local guides:
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in El Paso County?
$59,806 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $78,476 for Texas. It ranks 169th of 254 in the state.
What do renters pay in El Paso County?
$1,079 a month at the median, about 22% of median household income.
Does this page cover El Paso?
Yes, along with the other 18 Census places in El Paso County, such as Socorro, Horizon City, Fort Bliss.
Can El Paso County residents use the questionnaire?
Yes. It asks the same questions in every Texas county, lists every requirement up front and does not affect your credit score.
Where can someone in El Paso County check a lender's license?
With the Texas Department of Banking. If a lender is unlicensed or asks for a fee before funding, walk away.