El Paso County
TX · Pop. 866,275 · Urban County
El Paso County, Texas covers 1,013 square miles with a population of 866,275 and a density of 855.2 people per square mile, a more developed setting where truly rural parcels are scarcer. The agricultural economy is rated weak, built on cotton, hay, wheat. A median home price of $167,000 and an effective property tax rate of 2.09% set the cost of entry. The climate sits in USDA hardiness zone 8b with a 242-day growing season, average summer highs of 94.2°F and average winter lows of 34°F. Annual rainfall averages 9.7 inches, and with drought risk rated very high, water storage and irrigation planning matter. The Hospitals of Providence East Campus is 2.1 miles away and includes an emergency room. Broadband reaches 96.9% of homes. On the hazard side, flood risk is very high, wildfire risk is very high, drought risk is very high, so plan infrastructure and insurance accordingly.
Pros
- A long 242-day growing season in USDA zone 8b supports a wide range of crops and multiple plantings.
- A median home price of $167,000 makes land and property relatively affordable.
- Broadband reaches 96.9% of homes, making remote work and online farm sales realistic.
- The Hospitals of Providence East Campus, with an emergency room, is just 2.1 miles away — strong local healthcare access.
Cons
- Wildfire risk is very high, requiring defensible space, fire-resistant construction, and an evacuation plan.
- Flood risk is very high, so careful parcel siting and flood insurance are essential.
- Drought risk is very high, making water storage and irrigation infrastructure essential rather than optional.
- Annual rainfall of just 9.7 inches means irrigation and water storage are core requirements.
- An effective property tax rate of 2.09% is on the higher side and adds to annual carrying costs.
At a glance
El Paso County, TX is a challenging place to homestead on the data.
- Homestead score
- 20/100
- Median home price
- $167k
- Property tax
- 2.09%
- Growing season
- 242 days (zone 8b)
- Annual rainfall
- 9.7"
- Broadband
- 96.9%
- Nearest hospital
- The Hospitals of Providence East Campus, 2.1 mi
Taxes & Cost of Living
Land & Building
Climate & Growing
Natural Disaster Risk
Healthcare
Infrastructure & Community
Business & Employment
Homesteading in El Paso County: FAQ
- What is the growing season like in El Paso County?
- El Paso County is in USDA hardiness zone 8b with a 242-day growing season, average summer highs of 94.2°F, and average winter lows of 34°F. The established crops are cotton, hay, wheat.
- How affordable is land and property here?
- The median home price is $167,000 and the effective property tax rate is 2.09%. There's no published county per-acre figure, so use recent comparable sales to gauge raw-land value.
- Is broadband internet available?
- Broadband reaches 96.9% of homes, strong coverage that supports remote work for most parcels.
- How close is healthcare?
- The Hospitals of Providence East Campus is 2.1 miles away and includes an emergency room; there are 23 hospitals in the county.
Explore Texas Resources
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More counties in Texas
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Data sources
Verified
Figures are sourced from public datasets: U.S. Census Bureau — ACS 5-year & Gazetteer, USDA NASS Census of Agriculture, USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020), FEMA National Risk Index, FCC Broadband Data Collection, BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, HIFLD Hospitals. Always confirm specifics locally before relying on them. See our methodology for how the homestead score is calculated.
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