Moving from Carrollton, TX to El Paso, TX

Relocating 642 mi from Carrollton to El Paso is a 10h 50m 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.

642 mi Β· 10h 50m by car Β· TX

COL -12.8% Home values -42.2% Ξ” +0.4Β°F annual

Distance & route

Driving
642 mi
Drive time
10h 50m
States
1
Fuel (25 mpg)
26 gal
Route throughTX
Primary highwaysI 20, I 10, US 180
Major cities en routeOdessa, Midland, Abilene, Fort Worth, Arlington

Route via OSRM driving profile. Actual time varies with traffic and season.

Cost of living

CarrolltonEl PasoU.S. avg
All items (RPP)103.0989.912100.0
Rents90.71182.585100.0
Goods102.83893.757100.0
Services117.87471.248100.0

Moderate COL drop: 12.8% cheaper overall in El Paso than Carrollton on the 2024 BEA RPP.

Source: BEA Regional Price Parities (MSA-level Β· MSA-level); 2024.

Housing prices

Carrollton β€” typical home
$406,040
El Paso β€” typical home
$234,775
Carrollton β€” typical rent
$1,521/mo
El Paso β€” typical rent
$1,461/mo

12.8% drop on the typical home value β€” a meaningful shift in monthly mortgage math.

YoY change: Carrollton -4.6%, El Paso +1.4%. Snapshot: 2026-03. Data provided by Zillow.

Climate

1991–2020 normalsCarrolltonEl Paso
Annual avg temperature66Β°F66Β°F
January avg low36Β°F35Β°F
July avg high94Β°F96Β°F
Annual snowfallβ€”2.8"
Annual precipitation41.9"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 1991–2020 (stations: RICHARDSON, TX US, EL PASO INTL AP, TX US).

Demographics

ACS 5-year 2023CarrolltonEl Paso
Population132,741678,147
Median household income$99,115$58,734
Median age38.434.1
Bachelor's degree or higher29.1%18.3%
Avg household size2.62.8

Expect median household income to fall 12.8% β€” $99,115 β†’ $58,734 per ACS 5-year estimates (2023).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year 2023.

Jobs & wages

Carrollton MSA β€” median wage
$48,440
El Paso MSA β€” median wage
$36,000
Carrollton MSA β€” employment
3,966,500
El Paso MSA β€” employment
323,310

Top occupations in El Paso MSA

OccupationEmploymentMedian 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 20–30% 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

When is the best time to move from Carrollton to El Paso?

Moving companies usually charge 20–30% less between October and April (off-peak). Memorial Day through Labor Day is peak pricing. For a 642 mi drive, weather on the route matters too β€” see the timing section above for state-specific winter warnings.

Is El Paso more expensive than Carrollton?

Based on BEA Regional Price Parities (2024), overall price level in El Paso is 12.8% lower than Carrollton (89.912 vs 103.09, U.S. average = 100). Rent and services typically carry most of this gap.

How does household income compare in Carrollton vs El Paso?

Median household income on the Census ACS 5-year (2023) is $58,734 in El Paso vs $99,115 in Carrollton β€” a 40.7% lower figure. Compare this against the cost-of-living gap above when budgeting.

How much do homes cost in El Paso compared to Carrollton?

Zillow ZHVI (2026-03) puts the typical home value at $234,775 in El Paso vs $406,040 in Carrollton β€” a 42.2% lower figure. Data provided by Zillow Research.

How does the job market in El Paso compare to Carrollton?

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics show median wages of $36,000 in the El Paso MSA vs $48,440 in the Carrollton 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.

How far is El Paso, TX from Carrollton, TX?

The driving distance is 642 mi and the route typically takes 10h 50m via I 20 and I 10. The trip crosses 1 state(s). Actual time varies with traffic and season.

Plan the move

Estimate costs with our moving cost calculator, or see where else to move from Carrollton.

City profiles: Carrollton, TX Β· El Paso, TX.

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