The El Paso metro area: El Paso and Hudspeth counties · Population 874,182 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in the El Paso area
Household size in the El Paso area
| Period | El Paso area | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 3.24 | 2.87 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 3.25 | 2.93 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 3.15 | 2.95 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 3.01 | 2.83 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.23 | −0.05 | −0.03 |
Households in the El Paso area are large by national standards, averaging 3.01 people against 2.65 for the U.S. That usually means more families with children at home. Since 2006–10, household size has dropped from 3.24, a much bigger shift than nationally.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in the El Paso area
| Period | El Paso area | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 31.9 | 34.7 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 32.5 | 35.4 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 33.7 | 36.1 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 34.9 | 36.7 | 40.1 |
| Change | +3.0 | +2.0 | +2.3 |
With a median age of just 34.9, the El Paso area is far younger than the country as a whole (40.1), a population that tilts toward young families with children. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 31.9, in line with the national trend. Of the 100 large U.S. metro areas, only six are younger.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in the El Paso area
| Period | El Paso area | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 17.4% | 13.7% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 17.7% | 13.7% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 16.2% | 13.1% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 16.9% | 12.9% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.5 pts | −0.8 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are common in the El Paso area: 16.9% of all households, against 11.6% nationally. Only three of the 100 large U.S. metro areas have a higher share of single-parent households.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in the El Paso area
Renters in the El Paso area
| Period | El Paso area | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 36.0% | 35.2% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 38.2% | 37.3% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 38.8% | 38.0% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 35.7% | 37.4% | 34.8% |
| Change | −0.3 pts | +2.3 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renting in the El Paso area is about as common as it is nationally: 35.7% of households rent, against 34.8%. About half of owners (48.8%) have paid off their mortgages, above the national share of 39.8%. Renting is most common in the west and least common in the southeast.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in the El Paso area
| Period | El Paso area | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.6% | 11.8% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 8.6% | 10.9% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 10.0% | 10.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 8.1% | 9.4% | 9.6% |
| Change | −0.5 pts | −2.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is on the low side in the El Paso area: 8.1% of homes sit empty, against 9.6% nationally, which points to steady demand for housing. Texas comes in at about the same level. Vacancy has edged down 0.5 points since 2006–10, a smaller shift than nationally.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in the El Paso area
| Period | El Paso area | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1983 | 1983 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1984 | 1985 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1986 | 1987 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1990 | 1992 | 1980 |
| Change | +7 | +8 | +6 |
The El Paso area has newer housing than the country as a whole: the median home was built in 1990, versus 1980 nationally. The median year built has moved up from 1983 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the east, while the west has the oldest housing.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in the El Paso area
| Period | El Paso area | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $744 | $921 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $877 | $1,005 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $942 | $1,178 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,233 | $1,560 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$489 | +$639 | +$606 |
The median renter in the El Paso area pays $1,233 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $489 a month from 2006–10, a 66% jump, roughly in step with the nation. Rent takes 34.2% of the typical renter's income, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched. Renters on a budget will find the lowest rents in the west; the highest are in the east.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in the El Paso area
Bachelor's degrees in the El Paso area
| Period | El Paso area | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 20.0% | 27.0% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 21.5% | 27.9% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 23.8% | 30.0% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 25.8% | 34.0% | 35.6% |
| Change | +5.7 pts | +7.1 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are less common in the El Paso area than nationally: 25.8% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%. The share with a degree is up 5.7 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Only six of the 100 large U.S. metro areas have a lower share of college graduates.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in the El Paso area
| Period | El Paso area | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 71.4% | 80.7% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 75.6% | 82.0% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 79.0% | 83.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 81.7% | 85.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +10.2 pts | +5.1 pts | +4.3 pts |
More than one in six adults in the El Paso area never finished high school, well above the national share: only 81.7% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% nationally. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 10.2 points, in line with the national trend. Of the 100 large U.S. metro areas, only four have a lower share of high school graduates.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in the El Paso area
| Period | El Paso area | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.1% | 7.0% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 9.0% | 7.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.1% | 5.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.0% | 5.3% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.0 pts | −1.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
At 6.0%, unemployment in the El Paso area is close to the national rate of 5.4%. Unemployment has fallen 2.0 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Largest cities in the El Paso area
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| El Paso area (all) | 3.01 | 34.9 | 16.9% | 35.7% | 8.1% | 1990 | $1,233 | 25.8% | 81.7% | 6.0% |
| Socorro | 3.29 | 34.0 | 17.7% | 17.9% | 5.8% | 2000 | $1,115 | 12.2% | 69.5% | 4.8% |
| Horizon City | 3.54 | 30.4 | 18.6% | 15.1% | 7.0% | 2004 | $1,335 | 17.4% | 87.9% | 9.4% |
| San Elizario | 3.93 | 31.8 | 21.4% | 24.7% | 7.1% | 2001 | $980 | 7.6% | 58.7% | 2.5% |
| Canutillo | 3.38 | 33.4 | 17.7% | 21.9% | 13.2% | 1994 | $1,042 | 18.7% | 73.5% | 4.2% |
| Fort Bliss | 3.92 | 21.0 | 7.9% | 99.6% | 13.6% | 2005 | $1,595 | 32.7% | 96.7% | 11.7% |
| Clint | 3.35 | 34.5 | 17.2% | 23.7% | 8.8% | 1995 | $981 | 13.3% | 71.0% | 4.3% |
| Homestead Meadows South | 3.88 | 31.8 | 13.7% | 26.6% | 4.7% | 2001 | $979 | 11.4% | 70.7% | 7.9% |
| Homestead Meadows North | 3.54 | 37.5 | 17.2% | 12.5% | 9.1% | 1996 | $1,234 | 15.3% | 63.3% | 7.4% |
| Anthony | 3.03 | 30.4 | 22.3% | 30.1% | 5.7% | 1992 | $1,181 | 22.5% | 82.7% | 7.9% |
| Fabens | 2.84 | 40.3 | 15.4% | 23.1% | 16.0% | 1987 | $798 | 13.3% | 64.4% | 3.1% |
All figures 2020–24.
Metro areas of similar size: Sarasota area · Oxnard area · Allentown area · Worcester area · New Haven area · Baton Rouge area · McAllen area · Albany area · Knoxville area · Bakersfield area
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up the El Paso area. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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