![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/croppedRealEstate38VXSDjpg.JPEG\" "\\"Is")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Artazum \/\/ Shutterstock<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
If you\u2019re deciding whether to buy or rent a home in El Paso<\/a> in 2026, you\u2019re not alone. What used to be a simple answer has become more difficult as the economy continues to drift from historical norms.<\/p>\n Previously, it was common knowledge<\/a> that buying was the more affordable choice, with long-term benefits generally outweighing the initial costs. But that assumption has shifted. After the pandemic threw housing markets off kilter<\/a>, prices ballooned and mortgage rates<\/a> climbed, straining affordability nationwide. Now, the typical buyer needs to earn far more<\/a> than the typical renter to afford a median-priced home in many cities, leading the homeowner population to stall<\/a>.<\/p>\n So what does buying vs. renting look like in El Paso right now? To find out, Redfin Real Estate<\/a> looked at the income required to afford a typical home over a typical apartment\u2014called the \u201cincome premium.\u201d For example, an income premium of 10% means a household needs to earn 10% more to buy than to rent, while a premium of -10% means renting is cheaper than buying.<\/p>\n Note: All data is a monthly average for the month of December 2025. Rental data comes from a partnership with Zillow; median income data comes from the U.S. Census.<\/p>\n Buying vs. renting: El Paso<\/p>\n Income premium to afford typical home over typical apartment: 35.5% Buying vs. renting: National<\/p>\n Income premium to afford typical home over typical apartment: 46.3% This story<\/a> was BE PART OF THE CONVERSATION<\/p>\n KVIA ABC 7 is committed to providing a forum for civil and constructive conversation.<\/p>\n Please keep your comments respectful and relevant. You can review our Community Guidelines by clicking here <\/a><\/p>\n
\nIncome needed to buy: $81,037
\nIncome needed to rent: $59,827
\nMedian sale price: $274,950
\nMedian rent price: $1,496
\nMedian household income: $64,507<\/p>\n
\nIncome needed to buy: $111,252
\nIncome needed to rent: $76,020
\nMedian sale price: $426,747
\nMedian rent price: $1,901
\nMedian household income: $86,185<\/p>\n
produced by
Redfin Real Estate<\/a> and reviewed and
distributed by Stacker<\/a>.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/1769840709_521_pixel.gif\"){kind=tracking}
<\/p>\n