Moving from Arlington, TX to El Paso, TX
Relocating 621 mi from Arlington to El Paso is a 10h 25m drive through 1 state(s). At long-haul distance the move touches nearly every household line item β rent or mortgage, utilities, tax withholding, climate load. This page sets the two cities side by side on each data layer.
621 mi Β· 10h 25m by car Β· TX
Distance & route
| Route through | TX |
|---|---|
| Primary highways | I 20, I 10, US 180 |
| Major cities en route | Odessa, Midland, Abilene, Fort Worth, Grand Prairie |
Route via OSRM driving profile. Actual time varies with traffic and season.
Cost of living
| Arlington | El Paso | U.S. avg | |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items (RPP) | 103.09 | 89.912 | 100.0 |
| Rents | 90.711 | 82.585 | 100.0 |
| Goods | 102.838 | 93.757 | 100.0 |
| Services | 117.874 | 71.248 | 100.0 |
Moderate COL drop: 12.8% cheaper overall in El Paso than Arlington on the 2024 BEA RPP.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities (MSA-level Β· MSA-level); 2024.
Housing prices
12.8% drop on the typical home value β a meaningful shift in monthly mortgage math.
YoY change: Arlington -3.0%, El Paso +1.4%. Snapshot: 2026-03. Data provided by Zillow.
Climate
| 1991β2020 normals | Arlington | El Paso |
|---|---|---|
| Annual avg temperature | 67Β°F | 66Β°F |
| January avg low | 37Β°F | 35Β°F |
| July avg high | 96Β°F | 96Β°F |
| Annual snowfall | β | 2.8" |
| Annual precipitation | 36.2" | 8.8" |
No material annual-average temperature gap; seasonal extremes may still differ.
Light snow year: El Paso gets around 2.8 in annually.
Source: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991β2020 (stations: ARLINGTON MUNI AP, TX US, EL PASO INTL AP, TX US).
Demographics
| ACS 5-year 2023 | Arlington | El Paso |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 394,769 | 678,147 |
| Median household income | $73,519 | $58,734 |
| Median age | 33.6 | 34.1 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21.8% | 18.3% |
| Avg household size | 2.81 | 2.8 |
Expect median household income to fall 12.8% β $73,519 β $58,734 per ACS 5-year estimates (2023).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year 2023.
Jobs & wages
Top occupations in El Paso MSA
| Occupation | Employment | Median wage |
|---|---|---|
| Office and Administrative Support Occupations | 44,500 | $35,550 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations | 34,790 | $23,150 |
| Transportation and Material Moving Occupations | 32,160 | $33,850 |
| Sales and Related Occupations | 31,050 | $28,800 |
| Educational Instruction and Library Occupations | 23,040 | $61,670 |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Best time to move
Moving companies typically charge 20β30% more between Memorial Day and Labor Day (peak season). October through April offers the lowest rates and better mover availability.
To avoid mid-semester school transfers, most U.S. families schedule moves between mid-June and mid-August. Public school calendars typically run late August or early September through late May or early June.
Packing & arrival checklist
- Air conditioning matters: July highs in El Paso average 96Β°F on NOAA normals. If the new place has window-unit or no AC, plan that purchase for the first week.
- Dry climate: El Paso sees only 8.8 in of precipitation a year. A humidifier helps keep wood furniture from cracking and is easier on skin and sinuses.
- Coastal Texas sees hurricanes June through November; inland areas face severe thunderstorms and occasional tornadoes in spring.
- Arrange utility connection (power, internet, gas, water) two weeks ahead of move-in.
- Update mailing address with USPS change-of-address within the first week post-move.
Frequently asked
How much do homes cost in El Paso compared to Arlington?
Zillow ZHVI (2026-03) puts the typical home value at $234,775 in El Paso vs $310,971 in Arlington β a 24.5% lower figure. Data provided by Zillow Research.
How does household income compare in Arlington vs El Paso?
Median household income on the Census ACS 5-year (2023) is $58,734 in El Paso vs $73,519 in Arlington β a 20.1% lower figure. Compare this against the cost-of-living gap above when budgeting.
How far is El Paso, TX from Arlington, TX?
The driving distance is 621 mi and the route typically takes 10h 25m via I 20 and I 10. The trip crosses 1 state(s). Actual time varies with traffic and season.
Is El Paso more expensive than Arlington?
Based on BEA Regional Price Parities (2024), overall price level in El Paso is 12.8% lower than Arlington (89.912 vs 103.09, U.S. average = 100). Rent and services typically carry most of this gap.
How does the job market in El Paso compare to Arlington?
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics show median wages of $36,000 in the El Paso MSA vs $48,440 in the Arlington MSA, on total employment of 323,310 and 3,966,500 respectively. Top occupations on the destination side appear in the Jobs & wages section above.
When is the best time to move from Arlington to El Paso?
Moving companies usually charge 20β30% less between October and April (off-peak). Memorial Day through Labor Day is peak pricing. For a 621 mi drive, weather on the route matters too β see the timing section above for state-specific winter warnings.
Plan the move
Estimate costs with our moving cost calculator, or see where else to move from Arlington.
City profiles: Arlington, TX Β· El Paso, TX.