$100k salary, packing up from Allentown

change
El Paso, TX cityscape

swapping out of allentown

El Paso

tx · metro 872k

photo: Gene Maysonet / pexels

a dispatch from

el paso

TX

31.76°N

106.49°W

El Paso has the Franklin Mountains running right through the middle of the city (which is rare), with hiking trails inside city limits and the desert wide open just past the suburbs. The Mexican food is exceptional in ways that the rest of Texas doesn't quite match (it's true regional border food). Ciudad Juarez is literally next door across the Rio Grande. The light at sunset is unreal.

metro872k

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01 · the verdict

the verdict

$591

below Allentown's monthly cost

The gap is real. El Paso costs noticeably less than Allentown, every month.
landable, recorded on the el paso entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,473/mo

19% cheaper than Allentown(vs $1,809/mo)

02state income tax

0%

$256/mo less in state tax than Allentown

vs 3.07% in Allentown

03after rent

$6,860/mo

$591 more than Allentown

gross of federal tax. a comparison, not a paycheck.

04a house here

$231k

36% cheaper than Allentown

vs $359k in Allentown

05metro size

872k

vs 874k in Allentown

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

222

pleasant days a year, in el paso.

Allentown only manages 157 of those. Bring the AC. 60 days a year clear 95°, well past Allentown's 2.

On par with Allentown for events and shows.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

65/100

11% lower than Allentown

vs 73/100 in Allentown

Closest outdoor draw: White Sands National Park, 72.1 mi.

·walk score®

93/100

8% higher than Allentown

vs 86/100 in Allentown

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

13

44% more than Allentown

vs 9 nonstops in Allentown

04 · see also

cities that play in el paso's register:

see also

roanoke

more things to do

turn the page

see also

lexington

more things to do

turn the page

see also

huntsville

more things to do

turn the page

compare el paso with:

RoanokeLexingtonHuntsville