El Paso receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
El Paso
Corpus Christi
Opportunity
47 · Bottom 31%
vs43 · Bottom 24%
Growth
54 · Top 44%
vs58 · Top 37%
Climate
68 · Top 47%
vs78 · Top 7%
Physical resilience
66 · Top 35%
vs41 · Bottom 30%
Housing affordability
91 · Bottom 41%
vs88 · Bottom 32%
Access
54 · Bottom 16%
vs51 · Bottom 13%
Economic stability
50 · Bottom 49%
vs34 · Bottom 25%
Measured values
| Metric | El Paso | Corpus Christi | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 874,182 | 448,012 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $59,751 | $67,453 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $28,456 | $34,990 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 157/sq mi | 251/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $180,200 | $210,400 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,079 | $1,275 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 64.3% | 62.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.9% | 5.1% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -0.4% | -0.8% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 25.9% | 23.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 18.7% | 16.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 2,032 | 2,069 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 2.3 | 4.6 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -7.3% | -9.4% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 94°F | 94°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 26°F | 48°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 11.2" | 31.7" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 74 mi | 72 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 25.5 min | 22.9 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 33.6 | 37.8 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
El Paso
Elevated or high exposure: hail.
Corpus Christi
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
El Paso
61
Your Score
62
Area Score
Corpus Christi
56
Your Score
57
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: El Paso, TX Metro Area · Corpus Christi, TX Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology