El Paso, Texas and West Adams, Colorado are two different worlds. El Paso is a large city situated on the US-Mexico border, while West Adams is a rural county in Colorado. They both offer unique lifestyles with things like cost of living, infrastructure, culture, and healthcare varying widely. Living in either place will depend on an individual's preference, whether it's urban Texas or rural Colorado.
When it comes to crime and safety, El Paso is considered one of the safest large cities in the U.S. Serious crime in El Paso is significantly below the national average. West Adams County, on the other hand, has a higher crime rate compared to the rest of Colorado, but still considerably lower than the national average. Both places are generally safe but different in size, providing a different living atmosphere.
Cost of Living
The cost of living in El Paso, Texas, is lower than the national average with housing being significantly cheaper. In comparison, West Adams, Colorado, has a slightly higher cost of living mainly due to housing prices. However, the overall difference is not massive.
Income Tax
Texas is one of the few states that don't have a state income tax, which is beneficial for the residents of El Paso. West Adams residents, on the other hand, are liable for Colorado state income tax.
Property Tax
Property tax in El Paso is significantly higher than the national average. Conversely, West Adams, Colorado, generally has lower property taxes, but this depends on the specific location within the county.
Sales Tax
Texas does not have a state sales tax, so residents only pay city sales tax. Colorado residents pay both city and state sales tax, which makes goods and services a bit more expensive there.
Income
Type
El Paso
West Adams
Estimated median household income
$51,241
$86,329
Estimated per capita income
$25,670
$37,504
Cost of living index (U.S. average is 100)
82.2
117.6
If you make $50,000 in El Paso, you will have to make $71,533 in West Adams to maintain the same standard of living.
Geographical Conditions
El Paso has a desert landscape with mountainous areas providing great hiking trails. West Adams is situated on Colorado's eastern plains, offering a diverse landscape of prairie, small mountains, and farming valleys.
Geographical information
Type
El Paso
West Adams
Land area
249.1 sq. miles
74.5 sq. miles
Population density
2,723.7 people per sq. mile
4,165.7 people per sq. mile
Relative area comparison
El Paso, TX West Adams, CO
Education
In terms of education, both El Paso and West Adams have their strengths. El Paso is home to the University of Texas at El Paso and several other higher education institutions. West Adams, despite its smaller size, boasts high-quality schools including Adams City High School and Lester Arnold High School.
El Paso's economy is diversified with industries such as healthcare, education, military, and manufacturing leading. The job market in West Adams, Colorado, is more agricultural and manufacturing-oriented, it’s home to numerous thriving businesses across various sectors too.
Biggest Employers
The biggest employers in El Paso are Fort Bliss (U.S. military), the University of Texas at El Paso, and Tenet Healthcare. In West Adams, the top employers include Vestas Wind Systems and the Adams County school district.
In El Paso (El Paso County), 65.5% voted for Democrats and 33.2% for Republicans in 2012 Presidential Election. In West Adams (Adams County), 57.3% voted for Democrats and 40.4% for Republicans.
Elections
Type
Democrats
Republicans
Other
Year
El Paso
West Adams
El Paso
West Adams
El Paso
West Adams
2020
66.8%
57.1%
31.6%
40.7%
1.6%
2.2%
2016
69.1%
50.1%
26.0%
41.6%
4.9%
8.3%
2012
65.5%
57.3%
33.2%
40.4%
1.3%
2.3%
2008
66.0%
58.5%
33.4%
40.1%
0.6%
1.4%
2004
56.2%
50.7%
43.3%
48.4%
0.5%
0.9%
2000
57.9%
50.3%
39.8%
44.2%
2.3%
5.5%
1996
62.3%
51.3%
32.1%
38.9%
5.6%
9.8%
Breakdown of population affiliated with a religious congregation
Type
Adherents
Congregations
Religion
El Paso
West Adams
El Paso
West Adams
CATHOLIC CHURCH
43.2%
16.0%
11.3%
4.5%
SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION
3.3%
0.7%
26.6%
7.8%
SEVENTH DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH
0.3%
0.4%
1.6%
3.3%
LUTHERAN CHURCH
0.2%
0.7%
1.0%
3.3%
EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH IN AMERICA
0.1%
0.4%
1.0%
2.5%
Weather
As for weather, El Paso, Texas has a hot desert climate with little rainfall and more sunny days. The temperatures can go extremely high in summer. West Adams, Colorado, experiences a semi-arid climate with hot summers and cold winters. Residents here get to experience all four seasons, including refreshing winters that can bring snowfall.
Weather and climate
Type
El Paso
West Adams
Temperature - Average
64.6°F
49.9°F
Humidity - Average morning or afternoon humidity
42.7%
50.6%
Humidity - Differences between morning and afternoon humidity
42.8%
20%
Humidity - Maximum monthly morning or afternoon humidity
59.8%
55%
Humidity - Minimum monthly morning or afternoon humidity
17%
35%
Precipitation - Yearly average
9.4 in
13.3 in
Snowfall - Yearly average
10.7 in
114 in
Clouds - Number of days clear of clouds
31.8%
19.2%
Sunshine amount - Average
89.4%
75.6%
Sunshine amount - Differences during a year
13.9%
10%
Sunshine amount - Maximum monthly
89.3%
74%
Sunshine amount - Minimum monthly
75.4%
64%
Wind speed - Average
8.9 mph
8.6 mph
Average climate in El Paso, Texas
Average climate in West Adams, Colorado
Air pollution
Type
AQI
CO
NO2
OZONE
PB
PM10
PM25
SO2
Year
El Paso
West Adams
El Paso
West Adams
El Paso
West Adams
El Paso
West Adams
El Paso
West Adams
El Paso
West Adams
El Paso
West Adams
El Paso
West Adams
2018
139
104
0.17
0.31
14.0
18.6
32.0
27.9
N/A
N/A
35.7
29.2
9.2
9.2
N/A
0.8
2017
173
97
0.19
0.31
13.0
18.8
30.5
27.6
N/A
N/A
40.4
22.0
9.5
8.9
0.5
0.9
2016
148
90
0.17
0.40
12.6
20.9
30.6
26.6
N/A
N/A
35.2
22.6
9.2
8.4
0.5
0.9
2015
112
101
0.18
0.42
12.7
19.7
30.8
25.9
N/A
N/A
31.2
20.2
8.0
9.4
0.5
1.1
2014
157
94
0.13
0.38
12.8
19.1
30.0
27.4
N/A
N/A
40.3
19.3
9.7
10.1
0.4
1.2
2013
211
83
0.23
0.37
14.1
17.3
30.5
27.5
N/A
N/A
43.9
18.7
10.8
N/A
0.4
1.3
2012
229
90
0.30
0.37
15.9
18.9
31.6
27.4
N/A
N/A
40.2
23.5
11.6
N/A
0.4
0.9
2011
221
90
0.23
0.35
15.9
18.1
31.2
28.0
N/A
N/A
34.7
24.0
11.6
N/A
0.5
1.4
2010
211
78
0.25
0.37
15.3
16.3
29.4
26.6
N/A
N/A
28.8
27.1
7.9
N/A
0.3
1.0
2009
117
76
0.23
0.35
15.4
14.1
29.5
26.6
N/A
0.005
28.6
23.0
8.3
N/A
0.3
1.3
2008
210
85
0.25
0.39
15.2
17.3
30.1
27.9
0.017
0.008
34.6
25.9
9.7
N/A
0.6
1.6
2007
134
96
0.28
0.46
13.9
20.6
30.6
25.4
0.019
0.007
40.5
27.8
8.4
N/A
0.4
1.2
2006
241
89
0.37
0.49
14.3
19.0
30.6
24.1
0.018
0.034
55.0
28.0
11.1
N/A
0.3
1.4
2005
159
86
0.43
0.56
13.1
21.3
29.6
21.4
0.013
0.124
44.5
29.5
9.6
N/A
0.6
1.5
2004
183
82
0.38
0.59
13.5
21.2
29.2
19.4
0.020
0.051
47.3
28.6
8.2
N/A
0.4
1.9
2003
278
106
0.46
0.55
15.5
21.2
29.5
21.1
0.039
0.055
60.4
32.6
10.8
N/A
0.6
1.9
2002
203
86
0.43
0.56
16.4
19.2
30.5
20.9
0.034
0.034
53.3
35.7
11.0
N/A
0.4
2.4
2001
139
95
0.51
0.69
15.5
24.6
28.7
17.7
0.046
0.040
N/A
32.6
9.8
N/A
0.7
2.5
2000
145
94
0.67
0.67
17.8
14.1
27.8
19.0
0.072
0.042
N/A
12.2
9.1
N/A
1.0
2.1
Natural disasters
Type
El Paso
West Adams
Tornado activity compared to U.S. average
4.2%
130.2%
Earthquake activity compared to U.S. average
524.4%
809.2%
Natural disasters compared to U.S. average
11%
11%
Transportation
El Paso, Texas, offers a variety of commuting options with a network of highways, bus services like Sun Metro, and El Paso International Airport for out-of-state travel. In contrast, West Adams lacks public transportation facilities, so residents almost entirely depend on personal vehicles for commuting.
Transport
Type
El Paso
West Adams
Amtrak stations
1
0
Amtrak stations nearby
1
3
FAA registered aircraft
331
0
FAA registered aircraft manufacturers and dealers
6
0
Means of transportation to work
Type
El Paso
West Adams
Bicycle
0.3%
0.2%
Bus
1.3%
4.2%
Carpooled
11.2%
13.1%
Car alone
83.4%
77.4%
Motorcycle
0.2%
0.2%
Walked
1.6%
1.1%
Average travel time to work
Type
El Paso
West Adams
Average
25.1 min
28.2 min
Real Estate
The real estate market in El Paso, Texas, is more affordable with a wide range of properties, from apartments to single-family homes. In West Adams, properties tend to be more expensive, but you get more land and can enjoy a more rural living experience.
Neighborhoods
El Paso has a diverse mix of urban and suburban neighborhoods from downtown to the scenic Mission Valley. West Adams is less populated and the communities are more spread out creating a small-town, rural feeling.
Houses and residents
Type
El Paso
West Adams
Houses
261,779
96,976
Average household size (people)
3
2.7
Houses occupied
242,529 (92.6%)
94,294 (97.2%)
Houses occupied by owners
147,788 (60.9%)
68,196 (72.3%)
Houses occupied by renters
94,741 (39.1%)
26,098 (27.7%)
Median rent asked for vacant for-rent units
$570.82
$1,683
Median price asked for vacant for-sale houses and condos
$227,007
$576,371
Estimated median house or condo value
$152,800
$438,983
Median number of rooms in apartments
4.3
4.1
Median number of rooms in houses and condos
6.2
6.8
Renting percentage
39.6%
35.7%
Housing density (houses/condos per square mile)
1,051
1,301.4
Household income disparities
46.6%
38.2%
Housing units without a mortgage
1,889 (2.2%)
8,555 (15.5%)
Housing units with both a second mortgage and home equity loan
2,956 (3.4%)
181 (0.3%)
Housing units with a mortgage
84,973 (97.8%)
46,792 (84.5%)
Housing units with a home equity loan
250 (0.3%)
4,321 (7.8%)
Housing units with a second mortgage
3,635 (4.2%)
10,023 (18.1%)
Housing units lacking complete kitchen facilities
2%
0.3%
Housing units lacking complete plumbing facilities
Self-employed workers in own not incorporated business
19,650
6,415
State government workers
12,525
3,185
Unpaid family workers
901
326
Industries and Occupations
The key industries in El Paso include healthcare, education, military, and retail with a diverse range of job opportunities. In West Adams, the main industries are agriculture, manufacturing, and health care. Occupations here are typically more physically oriented compared to those in El Paso.
El Paso has an extensive health care system with several hospitals, including the University Medical Center of El Paso. In contrast, West Adams, due to its rural nature, has fewer healthcare facilities, but there are hospitals in nearby larger towns.
Health (county statistics)
Type
El Paso
West Adams
General health status score of residents in this county from 1 (poor) to 5 (excellent)
El Paso, Texas offers excellent infrastructure, with well-maintained roads, numerous hospitals, and a variety of retail outlets and shopping centers. West Adams, on the other hand, although it has quality infrastructure, is more rural-oriented and less dense.
Infrastructure
Type
El Paso
West Adams
TV stations
10
17
Culture and Food
El Paso boasts a rich cultural fusion of American and Mexican influences, particularly visible in the local cuisine like enchiladas and tamales. West Adams lacks the diverse food scene of El Paso but offers hearty traditional American fare.
Sports Teams
El Paso is host to several professional sports teams, including the El Paso Chihuahuas (baseball) and the El Paso Locomotive FC (soccer). West Adams doesn't have any professional sports teams but does offer a range of outdoor recreational activities due to its nature-oriented geographical conditions.
El Paso, TX
West Adams, CO
El Paso, TX and 
West Adams, CO : 564.3 miles
