El Paso, TX and Corpus Christi, TX are two distinctly unique cities with different atmospheres and lifestyles. El Paso, a metropolitan hub along the Mexico border, boasts a low cost of living, high safety ratings, and diverse cultural offerings. Corpus Christi, located on the Gulf of Mexico, is known for its warm climate, thriving healthcare industry, and vibrant seafood cuisine. Both cities, while diverse in their ways, offer engaging lifestyles for both residents and tourists.
Distance between
El Paso, TX and
Corpus Christi, TX : 608.7 miles
El Paso's population is larger by 114%. Its population has grown by 114,753 people (20.4%) since 2000. The population of Corpus Christi has grown by 40,319 people (14.5%) during that time.
El Paso has consistently ranked as one of the safest large cities in the US, with its crime rate significantly lower than the national average. This city's location, close to the international border, does not undermine its safety. Corpus Christi, while having a higher crime rate than El Paso, is improving its safety measures. It's important to research neighborhoods before relocating or visiting. Both cities are committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of their residents and visitors.
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 1,253 registered sex offenders living in El Paso and 1,069 registered sex offenders living in . The ratio of residents to sex offenders in El Paso is 545 to 1; the ratio in Corpus Christi is 305 to 1. The number of registered sex offenders compared to the number of residents is a smaller in El Paso than in Corpus Christi.
Cost of Living
Living in El Paso tends to be less expensive than living in Corpus Christi. Both cities are below the national average in terms of cost of living, but El Paso boasts cheaper housing and lower utility costs. For those seeking to stretch their dollar further, El Paso offers a more economical lifestyle.
Income Tax
In line with Texas state law, neither El Paso nor Corpus Christi imposes an income tax. This lack of income tax could be an attracting factor for people considering relocating to either city.
Property Tax
Property taxes in Texas are relatively high compared to other states. However, the average property tax rate in El Paso is somewhat lower than in Corpus Christi. This variance may sway some potential homeowners towards El Paso.
Sales Tax
The total sales tax rate in El Paso is 8.25%, matching that of Corpus Christi. This rate combines the Texas state tax of 6.25% with additional local taxes. As a result, the sales tax burden is comparably equal in both cities.
Income
Type
El Paso
Corpus Christi
Estimated median household income
$51,241
$59,812
Estimated per capita income
$25,670
$29,969
Cost of living index (U.S. average is 100)
82.2
86.6
If you make $50,000 in El Paso, you will have to make $52,676 in Corpus Christi to maintain the same standard of living.
Geographical Conditions
Geographically, El Paso is situated in a desert area, with Franklin Mountains State Park providing opportunities for hiking and sightseeing. Corpus Christi is a coastal city, allowing for a variety of water activities like sailing, fishing, and beachgoing.
El Paso and Corpus Christi both host several higher education institutions, notably the University of Texas at El Paso and Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. There are also numerous public and private schools in both cities. However, educational metrics such as graduation rates and school performance are slightly higher in El Paso, making it potentially a better choice for families with school-age children.
El Paso's economy is driven by international trade, healthcare, and education, with the government also being a significant employer. Corpus Christi's economy has a strong maritime focus, with a bustling port, as well as energy production and healthcare. Both cities have diverse economies that offer numerous opportunities for job seekers and entrepreneurs.
Biggest Employers
Fort Bliss, a U.S. Army post, and the University Medical Centre are among the top employers in El Paso. In contrast, Christus Spohn Health System, Citgo Petroleum, and H-E-B are some of the largest employers in Corpus Christi. Both cities have dynamic job markets that appeal to various professional disciplines.
There were 1,961 building permits issued in El Paso in 2012 (1005 less than in 2011) compared to 1,470 building permits issued in Corpus Christi in 2012 (839 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 Corpus Christi (Nueces County), 47.6% voted for Democrats and 51.0% for Republicans.
Elections
Type
Democrats
Republicans
Other
Year
El Paso
Corpus Christi
El Paso
Corpus Christi
El Paso
Corpus Christi
2020
66.8%
47.9%
31.6%
50.8%
1.6%
1.4%
2016
69.1%
47.2%
26.0%
48.8%
4.9%
4.0%
2012
65.5%
47.6%
33.2%
51.0%
1.3%
1.4%
2008
66.0%
47.4%
33.4%
51.8%
0.6%
0.8%
2004
56.2%
42.6%
43.3%
56.9%
0.5%
0.4%
2000
57.9%
46.7%
39.8%
51.4%
2.3%
1.9%
1996
62.3%
53.7%
32.1%
40.2%
5.6%
6.1%
Breakdown of population affiliated with a religious congregation
Type
Adherents
Congregations
Religion
El Paso
Corpus Christi
El Paso
Corpus Christi
CATHOLIC CHURCH
43.2%
32.8%
11.3%
10.8%
SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION
3.3%
10.6%
26.6%
28.6%
LUTHERAN CHURCH
0.2%
0.5%
1.0%
1.7%
SALVATION ARMY
0.2%
0.5%
0.4%
0.3%
EPISCOPAL CHURCH
0.1%
0.8%
1.0%
2.0%
MUSLIM ESTIMATE
0.1%
0.7%
0.2%
0.3%
Weather
El Paso experiences a hot desert climate with mild winters, whereas Corpus Christi enjoys a humid subtropical climate with more precipitation. The higher humidity in Corpus Christi brings hot summers and mild to cool winters, something that tourists and relocators from cooler climates may find appealing. El Paso, with its drier climate, experiences more than 300 days of sunshine annually, making the city ideal for outdoor enthusiasts.
Weather and climate
Type
El Paso
Corpus Christi
Temperature - Average
64.6°F
71.5°F
Humidity - Average morning or afternoon humidity
42.7%
81.5%
Humidity - Differences between morning and afternoon humidity
42.8%
37%
Humidity - Maximum monthly morning or afternoon humidity
59.8%
93%
Humidity - Minimum monthly morning or afternoon humidity
17%
56%
Precipitation - Yearly average
9.4 in
32.6 in
Snowfall - Yearly average
10.7 in
0.2 in
Clouds - Number of days clear of clouds
31.8%
17%
Sunshine amount - Average
89.4%
64.5%
Sunshine amount - Differences during a year
13.9%
36%
Sunshine amount - Maximum monthly
89.3%
79%
Sunshine amount - Minimum monthly
75.4%
43%
Wind speed - Average
8.9 mph
12.7 mph
Average climate in El Paso, Texas
Average climate in Corpus Christi, Texas
Air pollution
Type
AQI
CO
NO2
OZONE
PB
PM10
PM25
SO2
Year
El Paso
Corpus Christi
El Paso
El Paso
El Paso
Corpus Christi
El Paso
El Paso
El Paso
Corpus Christi
El Paso
Corpus Christi
2018
139
89
0.17
N/A
14.0
N/A
32.0
23.9
N/A
N/A
35.7
N/A
9.2
9.2
N/A
0.4
2017
173
70
0.19
N/A
13.0
N/A
30.5
27.3
N/A
N/A
40.4
N/A
9.5
8.7
0.5
0.4
2016
148
59
0.17
N/A
12.6
N/A
30.6
26.9
N/A
N/A
35.2
N/A
9.2
8.1
0.5
0.5
2015
112
75
0.18
N/A
12.7
N/A
30.8
25.9
N/A
N/A
31.2
N/A
8.0
9.3
0.5
0.3
2014
157
75
0.13
N/A
12.8
N/A
30.0
26.1
N/A
N/A
40.3
N/A
9.7
9.3
0.4
0.2
2013
211
80
0.23
N/A
14.1
N/A
30.5
27.3
N/A
N/A
43.9
N/A
10.8
8.6
0.4
0.2
2012
229
78
0.30
N/A
15.9
N/A
31.6
28.6
N/A
N/A
40.2
N/A
11.6
8.9
0.4
0.2
2011
221
80
0.23
N/A
15.9
N/A
31.2
29.3
N/A
N/A
34.7
N/A
11.6
10.0
0.5
0.3
2010
211
85
0.25
N/A
15.3
N/A
29.4
27.9
N/A
N/A
28.8
N/A
7.9
9.7
0.3
0.5
2009
117
72
0.23
N/A
15.4
N/A
29.5
26.3
N/A
N/A
28.6
N/A
8.3
9.9
0.3
0.4
2008
210
82
0.25
N/A
15.2
N/A
30.1
26.4
0.017
N/A
34.6
N/A
9.7
10.0
0.6
0.6
2007
134
85
0.28
N/A
13.9
N/A
30.6
25.3
0.019
N/A
40.5
N/A
8.4
10.3
0.4
0.5
2006
241
88
0.37
N/A
14.3
N/A
30.6
27.0
0.018
N/A
55.0
N/A
11.1
10.3
0.3
0.7
2005
159
81
0.43
N/A
13.1
N/A
29.6
24.8
0.013
N/A
44.5
N/A
9.6
10.3
0.6
1.1
2004
183
74
0.38
N/A
13.5
N/A
29.2
26.8
0.020
N/A
47.3
N/A
8.2
N/A
0.4
1.3
2003
278
88
0.46
N/A
15.5
N/A
29.5
27.0
0.039
N/A
60.4
N/A
10.8
N/A
0.6
1.0
2002
203
88
0.43
N/A
16.4
N/A
30.5
27.6
0.034
N/A
53.3
N/A
11.0
N/A
0.4
0.9
2001
139
85
0.51
N/A
15.5
N/A
28.7
26.5
0.046
N/A
N/A
N/A
9.8
N/A
0.7
1.2
2000
145
78
0.67
N/A
17.8
N/A
27.8
25.8
0.072
N/A
N/A
N/A
9.1
N/A
1.0
1.3
Natural disasters
Type
El Paso
Corpus Christi
Tornado activity compared to U.S. average
4.2%
68.2%
Earthquake activity compared to U.S. average
524.4%
52%
Natural disasters compared to U.S. average
11%
24%
Transportation
El Paso has a well-ran public transportation system with buses, and it's also a car-friendly city with an extensive network of highways. Corpus Christi offers various types of public transportation including buses, shuttles, and ferries. Commuting times in both cities are relatively low compared to larger Texan cities.
Transport
Type
El Paso
Corpus Christi
Amtrak stations
1
0
Amtrak stations nearby
1
0
FAA registered aircraft
331
298
FAA registered aircraft manufacturers and dealers
6
1
Means of transportation to work
Type
El Paso
Corpus Christi
Bicycle
0.3%
0.2%
Bus
1.3%
1.1%
Carpooled
11.2%
9.9%
Car alone
83.4%
86.5%
Motorcycle
0.2%
0.2%
Taxicab
0.1%
0.1%
Walked
1.6%
1.4%
Average travel time to work
Type
El Paso
Corpus Christi
Average
25.1 min
21.4 min
Other means
22.2 min
20.1 min
Public transportation
46.4 min
37.6 min
Private vehicle occupancy
Type
El Paso
Corpus Christi
Average
1.2
1.1
Drove alone
88.5%
90.4%
In 2 person carpool
7.9%
7.6%
In 3 person carpool
2.1%
1.2%
In 4 person carpool
0.7%
0.4%
In 5-6 person carpool
0.7%
0.3%
How many people usually rode to work in the car, truck or van.
Real Estate
Real estate is less expensive in El Paso than in Corpus Christi. Home prices in El Paso are much lower than the national average, presenting promising opportunities for home buyers or investors. In contrast, Corpus Christi's real estate market is more expensive, due to its proximity to the beach and the bay.
Neighborhoods
El Paso has diverse neighborhoods from the historic Kern Place to the upscale Coronado Heights. Corpus Christi offers a variety of neighborhoods too, from the downtown area's vibrant atmosphere to the picturesque sea views in the South Side. Both cities have a neighborhood to match nearly every lifestyle and preference.
Houses and residents
Type
El Paso
Corpus Christi
Houses
261,779
137,431
Average household size (people)
3
2.7
Median year apartment built
1982
1984
Median year house/condo built
1985
1981
Length of stay in the house since moving in
14.7 years
13.3 years
Houses occupied
242,529 (92.6%)
117,366 (85.4%)
Houses occupied by owners
147,788 (60.9%)
67,874 (57.8%)
Houses occupied by renters
94,741 (39.1%)
49,492 (42.2%)
Median rent asked for vacant for-rent units
$570.82
$1,470
Median monthly housing costs
$939
$1,102
Median price asked for vacant for-sale houses and condos
$227,007
$329,579
Estimated median house or condo value
$152,800
$171,500
Median numbers of rooms
5.4
4.9
Median number of rooms in apartments
4.3
4.1
Median number of rooms in houses and condos
6.2
5.6
Median house price - detached houses
$187,761
$212,792
Median house price - in 2-unit structures
Over $1,000,000
$219,111
Median house price - in 3-to-4-unit structures
$75,782
$270,664
Median house price - in 5 or more unit structures
$266,003
$270,817
Median house price - mobile homes
$43,095
$33,205
Median house price - occupied boats, rvs, vans etc.
$9,296
$66,701
Median house price - Townhouses or other attached units
$149,459
$168,101
Median house price - All housing units
$186,951
$210,115
Median house age
38
40
Renting percentage
39.6%
40.7%
Housing density (houses/condos per square mile)
1,051
888.7
House value disparities
32.7%
37.5%
Household income disparities
46.6%
45%
Median household income for houses/condes with a mortgage
$74,665
$84,755
Median household income for apartments without a mortgage
$52,954
$55,283
Housing units without a mortgage
1,889 (2.2%)
190 (0.5%)
Housing units with both a second mortgage and home equity loan
2,956 (3.4%)
1,163 (3.1%)
Housing units with a mortgage
84,973 (97.8%)
37,907 (99.5%)
Housing units with a home equity loan
250 (0.3%)
0 (0%)
Housing units with a second mortgage
3,635 (4.2%)
1,292 (3.4%)
House/condo owner moved in on average (years ago)
14
11
House/condo renter moved in on average (years ago)
1
1
Housing units lacking complete kitchen facilities
2%
2.9%
Housing units lacking complete plumbing facilities
2%
2.8%
Housing units in structures
Housing units in structures
El Paso
Corpus Christi
One, detached
67.7%
65.0%
One, attached
4.4%
1.6%
Two
2.4%
3.0%
3 or 4
4.1%
6.5%
5 to 9
5.9%
8.7%
10 to 19
5.8%
5.7%
20 to 49
2.4%
2.3%
50 or more
4.8%
4.1%
Mobile homes
2.3%
2.8%
Boats, RVs, vans, etc.
0.2%
0.3%
Median real estate property taxes paid for housing units
Self-employed workers in own not incorporated business
19,650
10,817
State government workers
12,525
6,884
Unpaid family workers
901
230
Industries and Occupations
In El Paso, the most popular industries are healthcare, education, and international trade. Meanwhile, in Corpus Christi, the leading sectors are maritime, energy, and healthcare. Jobs related to these industries are prevalent in both cities, providing diverse employment opportunities.
El Paso's health care system is robust, with the city hosting the University Medical Center of El Paso and the El Paso Children's Hospital. Corpus Christi also has excellent healthcare, with a well-regarded medical district hosting several hospitals and clinics. The quality and access to healthcare are good in both cities.
Health (county statistics)
Type
El Paso
Corpus Christi
General health status score of residents in this county from 1 (poor) to 5 (excellent)
El Paso's infrastructure is well-developed, boasting an extensive network of roads, an international airport, and a bus service run by Sun Metro. Corpus Christi also has strong infrastructure, with a robust airport, public transit system, and a major seaport. Yet, Corpus Christi occasionally grapples with infrastructure challenges and natural disasters due to its coastal location.
Infrastructure
Type
El Paso
Corpus Christi
Hospitals
41
34
TV stations
10
21
Arenas or stadiums
2
1
Bank branches located here
89
83
Bank institutions located here
19
17
Main business address for public companies
7
1
Drinking water stations with no reported violations in the past
0
1
Drinking water stations with reported violations in the past
HMDA - Conventional home purchase loans - Applications denied
Year
El Paso
Corpus Christi
1999
1,994
1,534
2000
993
814
2001
704
738
2002
594
631
2003
1,268
737
2004
1,646
1,013
2005
2,316
1,275
2006
2,701
1,217
2007
2,051
942
2008
1,034
546
2009
454
413
Culture and Food
El Paso offers a rich blend of cultures, with a strong Mexican influence seen in the local cuisine and festivals. Corpus Christi, as a coastal city, is known for its seafood and water-related activities. Both cities offer a diverse range of cultural experiences, from museums and art galleries to food festivals and concert venues.
Sports Teams
El Paso houses the professional soccer team, El Paso Locomotive FC, and the minor league baseball team El Paso Chihuahuas. Corpus Christi is home to the Hooks minor league baseball team and the Ice Rays junior hockey team. Both cities have a strong sports culture for fans and recreational players alike.
El Paso, TX
Corpus Christi, TX
