Adams County vs El Paso County
Adams County, Colorado versus El Paso County, Colorado: a factual, side-by-side comparison of cost of living, housing, safety, schools, and climate. Greener figures rank better among US counties.
El Paso County edges out Adams County on overall objective livability (44 vs 39 of 100), though each leads on different factors below.
Factor-by-factor comparison
| Factor | Adams County | El Paso County |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability | ||
| Median Household Income | $86k | $83k |
| Cost of Living | $62k | $52k |
| Home Value | $425k | $391k |
| Monthly Rent | $2k | $2k |
| Monthly Owner Costs | $2k | $2k |
| Property Tax Rate | 0.61% | 0.42% |
| Income Tax | 4.40% | 4.40% |
| Sales Tax | 7.81% | 7.81% |
| Estimated total tax burden | 9.97% | 8.95% |
| Unemployment | 4.6% | 5.7% |
| Weather | ||
| Winter Temp (Jan) | 32°F | 32°F |
| Summer Temp (Jul) | 74°F | 73°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.9 in | 18.9 in |
| Annual Snowfall | 38.3 in | 55.7 in |
| Sunny Days | 210 days | 283 days |
| Summer Humidity | 49°F | 48°F |
| Comfortable Days | 45 days | 55 days |
| Safety & Wellbeing | ||
| Natural Disaster Risk | 91.2 | 94.1 |
| Air Quality | 51 AQI | 47 AQI |
| School Quality | 50.8 | 43.8 |
| Violent Crime | 1195/100k | 1016/100k |
| Property Crime | 3531/100k | 2701/100k |
| Community | ||
| Population | 520,149 | 730,323 |
| Median Age | 34.4 | 34.7 |
| Racial Diversity | 0.53 | 0.43 |
| Male/Female Ratio | 1.04 | 1.04 |
| Political Leaning | D+17 | R+11 |
| White (%) | 47.5% | 66.9% |
| Black (%) | 3.4% | 5.6% |
| Hispanic (%) | 41.4% | 18.2% |
| Asian (%) | 3.8% | 2.7% |
| Other / Multiracial (%) | 4.0% | 6.6% |
| Getting Around | ||
| Commute Time | 30 min | 24 min |
| Walkability | 11.9/20 | 10.3/20 |
| Airport Distance | 16 mi | 72 mi |
| Lifestyle & Connectivity | ||
| Broadband Access | 91.1% | 93.6% |
| Amenities Nearby | 0.00 | 0.10 |
| Park & Nature Access | Good | Moderate |
Each figure is colored by how it ranks among all US counties: green is strong, amber average, red weaker. Neutral factors (population, demographics, target-style climate) show their percentile without a better/worse claim.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Adams County or El Paso County more affordable?
- El Paso County has the lower cost of living: its index is $52k, compared with Adams County's $62k and El Paso County's $52k. Median rent is $2k in Adams County versus $2k in El Paso County.
- Is Adams County or El Paso County safer?
- El Paso County has the lower violent crime rate. Adams County reports 1195/100k and El Paso County reports 1016/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
- Are homes cheaper in Adams County or El Paso County?
- The median home value is $425k in Adams County and $391k in El Paso County, so homes are more affordable in El Paso County.