RANK #506 / 1001 NAT · #24 / 72 TX · POP 870,779
1YR FORECAST: +0.1%
5YR OUTLOOK: +28%
El Paso County, Texas, stands out for its dramatic desert landscape, framed by the Franklin Mountains, which offer extensive trails for hiking, biking, and rock climbing within Franklin Mountains State Park, one of the largest urban parks in the nation. The county, located in far West Texas and operating on Mountain Time, shares a border with New Mexico and Mexico, creating a distinctive cultural blend. Commutes within the county are generally manageable, though construction can cause delays. Public transportation, including bus services and a streetcar in the city of El Paso, connects various communities like Anthony, Canutillo, and Socorro.
Life in El Paso County offers a blend of affordability and a strong community feel, often described as family-oriented. The region's economy is diverse, with major employers including Fort Bliss, a significant military installation. Beyond the military, the economy is expanding into sectors such as advanced manufacturing, aerospace, defense, and logistics, leveraging its position as a trade corridor with Mexico. The public school systems, including large districts like El Paso ISD and Socorro ISD, serve the county's population.
El Paso County's data profile doesn't fit any single market profile cleanly — its housing, labor, and demographic signals pull in different directions (home prices +1.5% YoY, population +0.5%, wages +2.6%). About 414 U.S. counties show this kind of mixed-signal pattern.
See all 414 Idiosyncratic Markets counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Below national median
Housing looks overvalued at 9.0x — home prices are high relative to local economic output. Climate and geography support a structural premium. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Bars show trailing 12-month growth. The dashed Forecast bars are the model's next-12-month projection; the whisker marks the ±1% range (cooling–accelerating).
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →
Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Meta El Paso Data Center Campus
Meta
|
$10,000M | Under Construction |
|
McCloud Natural Gas Plant
El Paso Electric
|
$366M | Proposed |
|
Advanced Manufacturing District
El Paso (City)
|
$50M | Planned |
|
Pellicano Drive Widening Project
El Paso County
|
$50M | Legal Coordination |
|
Montwood Drive Extension
El Paso County
|
$50M | Construction |
|
Connect El Paso Data Center
Oppidan
|
$27M | Planned |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
El Paso County scores 49/100 on the Boom Town Index, landing in the middle of the pack among 1001 U.S. counties (#506). Median household income is $59,806 and job growth is running at +1.2%. The data points to a county with mixed signals — some positive indicators alongside areas that lag faster-growing peers.
Housing in El Paso County is roughly in line with national affordability norms. The median home costs $180,400 and the income-to-home-value ratio sits at 0.33, with rents averaging $1,079/month. Not a bargain, but not a stretch for most local earners either.
El Paso County is growing on multiple fronts. Population is up +0.5% year-over-year while employers added jobs at a +1.2% clip. Home values shifted +1.5% in the past year.
Not particularly — 1.27% of El Paso County's population moved in from another state, which is below the national average. Most residents are long-term locals rather than recent transplants.