El Paso, Texas, and Sacramento, California, are two distinctive cities with their unique characteristics, advantages, and drawbacks. Depending on various factors like climate preference, cost of living, job opportunity, or educational infrastructure, one may be more appealing than the other. This comprehensive guide compares these two cities considering various vital aspects from crime and safety, weather, cost of living, and much more.
Distance between
El Paso, TX and
Sacramento, CA : 968.0 miles
El Paso's population is larger by 29%. Its population has grown by 114,753 people (20.4%) since 2000. The population of Sacramento has grown by 118,023 people (29.0%) during that time.
In terms of crime rates, El Paso is generally considered safer than Sacramento. El Paso consistently ranks as one of the safest cities of its size in the United States, which is a significant aspect for those considering to relocate or visit. Conversely, Sacramento’s crime rate is higher than the national average. Regardless, neighborhood crime rates can vary significantly within each city; therefore, it's suggested for potential residents or visitors to research individual neighborhoods.
City-data.com crime index counts serious crimes and violent crime more heavily. It adjusts for the number of visitors and daily workers commuting into cities. (higher means more crime, U.S. average = 301.1)
City-data.com crime index counts serious crimes and violent crime more heavily. It adjusts for the number of visitors and daily workers commuting into cities. (higher means more crime, U.S. average = 301.1)
Sex Offenders
According to our data, there are 1,274 registered sex offenders living in El Paso and 2,168 registered sex offenders living in . The ratio of residents to sex offenders in El Paso is 536 to 1; the ratio in Sacramento is 228 to 1. The number of registered sex offenders compared to the number of residents is a smaller in El Paso than in Sacramento.
Cost of Living
Overall, the cost of living in El Paso is significantly lower than in Sacramento. This lower cost in El Paso is largely due to cheaper housing and lower healthcare costs. In contrast, Sacramento, like many California cities, has a high cost of living, especially concerning housing.
Income Tax
One significant advantage that El Paso has over Sacramento is the absence of a state income tax in Texas. On the other hand, California has one of the nation's highest state income taxes, which directly impacts Sacramento’s residents.
Property Tax
Property taxes in Texas are higher than in California, which could affect homeowners in El Paso. Nonetheless, the lower property costs in El Paso might offset this higher tax rate compared to Sacramento.
Sales Tax
Sacramento has a higher sales tax, at 8.75%, compared to El Paso's 8.25%. In both cases, this is something that visitors and potential residents will want to take into account when considering the cost of living and visiting.
Income
Type
El Paso
Sacramento
Estimated median household income
$51,241
$75,311
Estimated per capita income
$25,670
$37,916
Cost of living index (U.S. average is 100)
82.2
102.9
If you make $50,000 in El Paso, you will have to make $62,591 in Sacramento to maintain the same standard of living.
Geographical Conditions
Sacramento enjoys a flat topography located in the expansive Central Valley, while El Paso is in a mountainous region of West Texas. Both cities have access to outdoor recreational activities, but the mountain hiking and biking trails are more abundant near El Paso.
Both cities offer respectable educational options. Sacramento stands out for having more widely recognized universities, including Sacramento State and the nearby University of California, Davis. El Paso's major university, UTEP, has many respected programs but may not have the same broad recognition.
Both Sacramento's and El Paso’s economies are quite diversified; however, government jobs are more prevalent in Sacramento because it's the state capital of California. El Paso's economy is more reliant on trade, healthcare, and education sectors.
Biggest Employers
The State of California is the largest employer in Sacramento, followed by Sacramento County and healthcare providers like Sutter Health. Fort Bliss and William Beaumont Army Medical Center are among El Paso’s biggest employers, with the public school system also employing a significant number of individuals.
There were 1,961 building permits issued in El Paso in 2012 (1005 less than in 2011) compared to 1,004 building permits issued in Sacramento in 2012 (943 more than in 2011).
In El Paso (El Paso County), 65.5% voted for Democrats and 33.2% for Republicans in 2012 Presidential Election. In Sacramento (Sacramento County), 58.1% voted for Democrats and 39.1% for Republicans.
Elections
Type
Democrats
Republicans
Other
Year
El Paso
Sacramento
El Paso
Sacramento
El Paso
Sacramento
2020
66.8%
61.4%
31.6%
36.1%
1.6%
2.5%
2016
69.1%
58.0%
26.0%
33.8%
4.9%
8.3%
2012
65.5%
58.1%
33.2%
39.1%
1.3%
2.8%
2008
66.0%
58.4%
33.4%
39.4%
0.6%
2.2%
2004
56.2%
49.8%
43.3%
49.6%
0.5%
0.6%
2000
57.9%
49.4%
39.8%
45.4%
2.3%
5.2%
1996
62.3%
49.8%
32.1%
40.8%
5.6%
9.4%
Breakdown of population affiliated with a religious congregation
Type
Adherents
Congregations
Religion
El Paso
Sacramento
El Paso
Sacramento
CATHOLIC CHURCH
43.2%
16.2%
11.3%
5.1%
SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION
3.3%
1.7%
26.6%
8.6%
SEVENTH DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH
0.3%
0.6%
1.6%
2.1%
EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH IN AMERICA
0.1%
0.5%
1.0%
1.8%
MUSLIM ESTIMATE
0.1%
0.9%
0.2%
1.3%
NORTH AMERICAN BAPTIST CONFERENCE
0.0%
0.6%
0.0%
2.2%
Weather
Sacramento features a Mediterranean climate with mild winters and dry, hot summers. On the other hand, El Paso is situated in the Chihuahuan Desert, resulting in a dry, hot climate most of the year with cooler winters. For those who enjoy abundant sunshine, both cities are excellent options. However, for those who enjoy a milder summer, Sacramento may be a better fit.
Weather and climate
Type
El Paso
Sacramento
Temperature - Average
64.6°F
62.2°F
Humidity - Average morning or afternoon humidity
42.7%
66.8%
Humidity - Differences between morning and afternoon humidity
42.8%
58%
Humidity - Maximum monthly morning or afternoon humidity
59.8%
87%
Humidity - Minimum monthly morning or afternoon humidity
17%
29%
Precipitation - Yearly average
9.4 in
19 in
Snowfall - Yearly average
10.7 in
0 in
Clouds - Number of days clear of clouds
31.8%
31.5%
Sunshine amount - Average
89.4%
83.6%
Sunshine amount - Differences during a year
13.9%
52%
Sunshine amount - Maximum monthly
89.3%
97%
Sunshine amount - Minimum monthly
75.4%
45%
Wind speed - Average
8.9 mph
6.8 mph
Average climate in El Paso, Texas
Average climate in Sacramento, California
Air pollution
Type
AQI
CO
NO2
OZONE
PB
PM10
PM25
SO2
Year
El Paso
Sacramento
El Paso
Sacramento
El Paso
Sacramento
El Paso
Sacramento
El Paso
Sacramento
El Paso
Sacramento
El Paso
Sacramento
El Paso
Sacramento
2018
139
121
0.17
0.32
14.0
9.7
32.0
24.7
N/A
0.002
35.7
28.9
9.2
12.7
N/A
N/A
2017
173
117
0.19
0.33
13.0
9.0
30.5
25.2
N/A
0.002
40.4
22.1
9.5
8.8
0.5
N/A
2016
148
103
0.17
0.44
12.6
8.0
30.6
25.3
N/A
0.002
35.2
14.0
9.2
9.0
0.5
N/A
2015
112
105
0.18
0.25
12.7
9.7
30.8
24.9
N/A
0.002
31.2
16.2
8.0
10.9
0.5
N/A
2014
157
99
0.13
0.24
12.8
10.2
30.0
24.9
N/A
0.002
40.3
15.6
9.7
9.6
0.4
N/A
2013
211
102
0.23
0.29
14.1
11.1
30.5
23.2
N/A
0.002
43.9
21.3
10.8
11.9
0.4
N/A
2012
229
107
0.30
0.31
15.9
10.5
31.6
25.2
N/A
0.002
40.2
15.2
11.6
7.9
0.4
N/A
2011
221
106
0.23
0.29
15.9
11.2
31.2
24.0
N/A
0.002
34.7
17.7
11.6
10.8
0.5
N/A
2010
211
109
0.25
0.29
15.3
11.2
29.4
22.8
N/A
N/A
28.8
16.9
7.9
9.3
0.3
0.5
2009
117
118
0.23
0.40
15.4
12.4
29.5
23.3
N/A
0.003
28.6
20.6
8.3
11.4
0.3
0.5
2008
210
130
0.25
0.40
15.2
14.9
30.1
25.4
0.017
N/A
34.6
24.3
9.7
13.6
0.6
0.5
2007
134
129
0.28
0.39
13.9
14.8
30.6
23.7
0.019
0.005
40.5
19.9
8.4
13.5
0.4
0.6
2006
241
124
0.37
0.49
14.3
15.4
30.6
22.7
0.018
N/A
55.0
23.7
11.1
13.0
0.3
0.5
2005
159
125
0.43
0.42
13.1
15.9
29.6
20.0
0.013
N/A
44.5
22.1
9.6
13.5
0.6
0.6
2004
183
119
0.38
0.49
13.5
15.8
29.2
19.1
0.020
N/A
47.3
22.7
8.2
13.3
0.4
0.6
2003
278
119
0.46
0.47
15.5
16.8
29.5
20.3
0.039
N/A
60.4
23.1
10.8
N/A
0.6
0.9
2002
203
114
0.43
0.50
16.4
18.1
30.5
21.2
0.034
0.004
53.3
25.1
11.0
N/A
0.4
1.5
2001
139
111
0.51
0.43
15.5
18.0
28.7
21.2
0.046
0.004
N/A
20.7
9.8
N/A
0.7
1.4
2000
145
107
0.67
0.55
17.8
17.9
27.8
19.5
0.072
0.004
N/A
19.1
9.1
N/A
1.0
1.4
Natural disasters
Type
El Paso
Sacramento
Tornado activity compared to U.S. average
4.2%
8.8%
Earthquake activity compared to U.S. average
524.4%
7,798.9%
Natural disasters compared to U.S. average
11%
18%
Transportation
Sacramento's public transportation system is more developed than El Paso's, with light rail and bus systems, though traffic can be heavy. El Paso also has a bus system, and traffic tends to be less of an issue, often making commuting times shorter.
Transport
Type
El Paso
Sacramento
Amtrak stations
1
1
Amtrak stations nearby
1
3
FAA registered aircraft
331
414
FAA registered aircraft manufacturers and dealers
6
20
Means of transportation to work
Type
El Paso
Sacramento
Bicycle
0.3%
1.1%
Bus
1.3%
1%
Carpooled
11.2%
12%
Car alone
83.4%
80%
Motorcycle
0.2%
0.2%
Railroad
0%
0.4%
Taxicab
0.1%
0.1%
Walked
1.6%
2.8%
Average travel time to work
Type
El Paso
Sacramento
Average
25.1 min
28.5 min
Other means
22.2 min
22.8 min
Public transportation
46.4 min
39 min
Private vehicle occupancy
Type
El Paso
Sacramento
Average
1.2
1.2
Drove alone
88.5%
88.5%
In 2 person carpool
7.9%
9.4%
In 3 person carpool
2.1%
1.2%
In 4 person carpool
0.7%
0.4%
In 5-6 person carpool
0.7%
0.5%
How many people usually rode to work in the car, truck or van.
Real Estate
Real estate is substantially more affordable in El Paso than in Sacramento. Rising California home prices affect Sacramento, whereas El Paso remains among the more affordable large cities in the country. Thus it might appeal more to those looking for lower housing costs.
Neighborhoods
Both cities offer a range of neighborhoods to suit diverse lifestyle preferences. Sacramento offers urban options like Midtown and East Sacramento, along with more suburban environments like Elk Grove and Roseville. El Paso has historic districts like Sunset Heights, rapidly developing downtown, and peaceful suburban areas like East Side.
Houses and residents
Type
El Paso
Sacramento
Houses
261,779
210,715
Average household size (people)
3
2.6
Median year apartment built
1982
1977
Median year house/condo built
1985
1978
Length of stay in the house since moving in
14.7 years
12.8 years
Houses occupied
242,529 (92.6%)
202,093 (95.9%)
Houses occupied by owners
147,788 (60.9%)
103,994 (51.5%)
Houses occupied by renters
94,741 (39.1%)
98,099 (48.5%)
Median rent asked for vacant for-rent units
$570.82
$976.09
Median monthly housing costs
$939
$1,558
Median price asked for vacant for-sale houses and condos
$227,007
$398,191
Estimated median house or condo value
$152,800
$449,600
Median numbers of rooms
5.4
5
Median number of rooms in apartments
4.3
4.1
Median number of rooms in houses and condos
6.2
5.8
Median house price - detached houses
$187,761
$496,462
Median house price - in 2-unit structures
Over $1,000,000
$630,561
Median house price - in 3-to-4-unit structures
$75,782
$205,310
Median house price - in 5 or more unit structures
$266,003
$382,635
Median house price - mobile homes
$43,095
$104,325
Median house price - Townhouses or other attached units
$149,459
$463,571
Median house price - All housing units
$186,951
$481,210
Median house age
38
44
Renting percentage
39.6%
50.6%
Housing density (houses/condos per square mile)
1,051
2,168.8
House value disparities
32.7%
25.5%
Household income disparities
46.6%
44%
Median household income for houses/condes with a mortgage
$74,665
$109,432
Median household income for apartments without a mortgage
$52,954
$82,443
Housing units without a mortgage
1,889 (2.2%)
1,166 (1.6%)
Housing units with both a second mortgage and home equity loan
2,956 (3.4%)
4,385 (6.1%)
Housing units with a mortgage
84,973 (97.8%)
70,415 (98.4%)
Housing units with a home equity loan
250 (0.3%)
204 (0.3%)
Housing units with a second mortgage
3,635 (4.2%)
5,362 (7.5%)
House/condo owner moved in on average (years ago)
14
10
House/condo renter moved in on average (years ago)
1
3
Housing units lacking complete kitchen facilities
2%
1.2%
Housing units lacking complete plumbing facilities
2%
0.3%
Housing units in structures
Housing units in structures
El Paso
Sacramento
One, detached
67.7%
61.7%
One, attached
4.4%
6.8%
Two
2.4%
1.8%
3 or 4
4.1%
4.8%
5 to 9
5.9%
6.9%
10 to 19
5.8%
4.9%
20 to 49
2.4%
3.5%
50 or more
4.8%
7.6%
Mobile homes
2.3%
1.9%
Boats, RVs, vans, etc.
0.2%
0.0%
Median real estate property taxes paid for housing units
Self-employed workers in own not incorporated business
19,650
12,891
State government workers
12,525
40,274
Unpaid family workers
901
755
Industries and Occupations
In Sacramento, government, healthcare, and education are the leading industries, with opportunities in agriculture as well. El Paso, conversely, features a job market dominated by healthcare, education, and the military. Both cities offer a good range of job prospects depending on one's field of expertise.
Sacramento provides superior healthcare facilities with numerous world-class hospitals. El Paso has some excellent healthcare facilities, but overall Sacramento offers a broader range of healthcare choices and often ranks higher in national health care rankings.
Health (county statistics)
Type
El Paso
Sacramento
General health status score of residents in this county from 1 (poor) to 5 (excellent)
As larger and economically more developed, Sacramento shows a more developed infrastructure, including a robust public transportation system. However, El Paso also provides solid infrastructure development, with significant ongoing development projects, particularly in its downtown area.
Infrastructure
Type
El Paso
Sacramento
Hospitals
41
17
TV stations
10
23
Arenas or stadiums
2
1
Bank branches located here
89
127
Bank institutions located here
19
31
Main business address for public companies
7
5
Drinking water stations with no reported violations in the past
0
26
Drinking water stations with reported violations in the past
HMDA - Conventional home purchase loans - Applications denied
Year
El Paso
Sacramento
1999
1,994
1,003
2000
993
1,155
2001
704
983
2002
594
1,197
2003
1,268
2,258
2004
1,646
3,872
2005
2,316
4,610
2006
2,701
4,276
2007
2,051
2,386
2008
1,034
1,381
2009
454
647
Culture and Food
Both cities boast rich cultural histories and diverse culinary scenes. Sacramento, known as the “Farm-to-Fork” capital, offers a wide variety of restaurants and food festivals, along with a thriving arts scene. El Paso reflects its blend of Texan and Mexican influences, boasting an amazing Tex-Mex food scene, and rich Hispanic cultural events.
Sports Teams
Sacramento is home to the NBA's Sacramento Kings, while El Paso does not have a major league sports team. However, the El Paso Chihuahuas, a minor league baseball team, draw a loyal fan base.
El Paso, TX
Sacramento, CA
El Paso, TX and 
Sacramento, CA : 968.0 miles
