Sample data. These scores are illustrative placeholders, not real measurements — live scores arrive when the data pipeline runs.
Where El Paso lands on the scale
Every city is graded on the same 0–100 Fun Score, split into five bands from quiet to exceptional — here is where El Paso sits.
How the Fun Score adds up
The Fun Score is one number with two halves — 16 things that make El Paso fun, minus 7 that wear it down. Here is the arithmetic.
16 things that lift the score, blended onto 0–100
7 things that wear it down, blended onto 0–100
- Fun factors lift it
- –
- Drawbacks pull it down
- –
- Raw composite
- –
- Fun Score placed on the published 0–100 scale
- –
Only 40% of the drawback total is subtracted — even a great city can carry a few flaws. Every factor below spells its contribution out as an equation — score times weight. Those 23 contributions are the building blocks behind the two totals above (each is rounded for display).
The Fun breakdown
Every factor is scored 0–100 against the other cities in the index.
El Paso's strongest factors are Higher Education, Star Power and Walkability. Its heaviest drawbacks are Air Quality, Economic Strain and Weather Extremes.
On every bar, the marker shows the typical city — the median score across the whole index.
What lifts the score
- Eats –
Restaurants, food halls and the depth of the dining scene.
Measured from OpenStreetMap restaurant counts, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality.
- Drinks –
Bars, breweries, cocktail rooms and the nightlife spread.
Measured from OpenStreetMap bars, pubs, nightclubs and craft breweries/distilleries, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality.
- Coffee –
Cafés and the strength of the third-place coffee culture.
Measured from OpenStreetMap café counts, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality.
-
Music venues and how often live shows actually happen.
Measured from Ticketmaster and SeatGeek show listings, plus OpenStreetMap music venues.
-
Notable people the city is known for, plus headliner acts that tour through.
Measured from SeatGeek headliner popularity and Wikidata notable residents (rank-blended).
- Outdoors –
Parks, beaches and easy access to nature.
Measured from OpenStreetMap parks, nature reserves, playgrounds and beaches, plus National Park Service units and Recreation.gov federal facilities.
- Culture –
Museums, theatres, galleries and arts institutions.
Measured from OpenStreetMap museums, galleries and theatres plus geo-tagged Wikipedia landmarks, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality.
- Events –
Festivals, fairs and a packed year-round events calendar.
Measured from Ticketmaster and SeatGeek festivals, fairs and ticketed events.
- Sports –
Pro and college teams and the game-day energy around them.
Measured from Ticketmaster and SeatGeek pro and college games, plus OpenStreetMap stadiums, sports centres and fitness centres.
-
Escape rooms, arcades, trampoline parks and karaoke spots.
Measured from OpenStreetMap escape rooms, arcades, trampoline parks and karaoke venues, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality.
-
How much the city is talked about and searched for — news and search attention.
Measured from GDELT news tone and Google Trends search interest (each percentile-ranked, then averaged).
- Climate –
How often the weather is good enough to get outside.
Measured from NOAA climate normals — counts of comfortable days.
-
How well a person without a car can move around the city.
Measured from GTFS schedules via Transit.land, the Federal Transit Administration National Transit Database and US Census ACS B08301 commuter mode share.
-
Density of fun within walking distance — sidewalks, intersections, mixed-use blocks.
Measured from EPA National Walkability Index (block-group resolution, population-weighted to the city).
-
Density of college and university students — the engine behind a college town.
Measured from NCES Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) full-time-equivalent enrollment and US Census ACS age cohort data.
-
Protected bike lanes and a working public bikeshare system.
Measured from OpenStreetMap protected cycleway segments and the MobilityData GBFS bikeshare-feed catalog.
What weighs it down
- Crime –
Reported violent and property crime rates.
Measured from FBI Crime Data Explorer and city open-data crime portals.
- Traffic –
Congestion and the time lost to commuting.
Measured from US Census commute-time data (ACS).
-
Recent particulate matter and ozone levels — a trailing-week air-quality average.
Measured from EPA AirNow and OpenAQ pollution readings (seven-day trailing average).
-
Exposure to natural hazards and severe events.
Measured from FEMA National Risk Index.
-
Punishing heat, cold and storm extremes.
Measured from NOAA Storm Events and climate-extremes data.
-
Cost of living and housing pressure on residents.
Measured from Bureau of Labor Statistics unemployment, HUD Fair Market Rent and US Census median income plus poverty rate.
-
What a typical night out actually costs in this metro.
Measured from Bureau of Labor Statistics regional Consumer Price Index — food away from home, recreation services and transportation services.
Couldn’t load the full breakdown. Please refresh to try again.
Cities like El Paso
The El Paso read Free
A written read on El Paso, grounded in the data
A plain-English analysis of why El Paso scores the way it does — its standout strengths, where it falls short, who it suits best, and the cities most like it. Every figure is drawn from the same 23 factors on this page: it narrates the measured data, it never invents a number.
The headline El Paso, TX is a Quiet city with a Fun Score of 20, tied for #119 out of 134 cities nationally, and is most notable for its strong performance in safety, with a high Crime score.
Why it scores high El Paso's strongest factor is its impressive Crime score of 89, which ranks it tied for #15 nationally out of 134 cities. This indicates a very safe environment, contributing significantly to a peaceful daily life. For residents, this means a greater sense of security and less worry about personal safety.
The city also performs well in Higher Education, scoring 68 and ranking tied for #43 nationally. This suggests a vibrant academic scene with good opportunities for learning and intellectual engagement, likely benefiting from a strong presence of colleges or universities. This can translate to a younger demographic, cultural events, and a well-educated workforce.
Another notable strength for El Paso is its Star Power, with a score of 49, placing it at #69 nationally. This factor, which considers headliner popularity and notable residents, indicates a city that attracts and produces recognizable figures, potentially leading to exciting events and a dynamic cultural landscape.
Where it falls short El Paso struggles in several areas, particularly in its offerings for active transportation and outdoor recreation. The city's Bike & Micromobility score is a low 10, ranking it #121 out of 134 cities. This suggests limited infrastructure for cycling and other micromobility options, making it less convenient for residents who prefer these modes of transport. Similarly, Outdoors scores only 13, ranking #117 nationally, indicating fewer parks, nature reserves, or accessible natural spaces for residents to enjoy.
The city's Culture scene also falls short, with a score of 14, tied for #115 nationally. This suggests a limited number of museums, galleries, and theaters, which could mean fewer opportunities for artistic and cultural enrichment. Additionally, the Live Music scene scores only 14, tied for #115 nationally, indicating a less vibrant live performance landscape.
Who it's for El Paso is best suited for individuals and families who prioritize a safe and quiet environment, value higher education opportunities, and are less concerned with a bustling nightlife, extensive outdoor activities, or a rich cultural scene. It's a good fit for those who appreciate a strong sense of security and a community with academic leanings.
Cities like it
- Laredo, TX: Similar in its quiet atmosphere and focus on community.
- Bakersfield, CA: Shares a comparable profile in terms of lifestyle and available amenities.
- Fort Worth, TX: Offers a similar blend of urban living with a more relaxed pace.
Sources
- OpenStreetMap restaurant counts, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality
- OpenStreetMap bars, pubs, nightclubs and craft breweries/distilleries, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality
- OpenStreetMap café counts, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality
- Ticketmaster and SeatGeek show listings, plus OpenStreetMap music venues
- SeatGeek headliner popularity and Wikidata notable residents (rank-blended)
- OpenStreetMap parks, nature reserves, playgrounds and beaches, plus National Park Service units and Recreation.gov federal facilities
- OpenStreetMap museums, galleries and theatres plus geo-tagged Wikipedia landmarks, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality
- Ticketmaster and SeatGeek festivals, fairs and ticketed events
- Ticketmaster and SeatGeek pro and college games, plus OpenStreetMap stadiums, sports centres and fitness centres
- OpenStreetMap escape rooms, arcades, trampoline parks and karaoke venues, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality
- GDELT news tone and Google Trends search interest (each percentile-ranked, then averaged)
- NOAA climate normals — counts of comfortable days
- GTFS schedules via Transit.land, the Federal Transit Administration National Transit Database and US Census ACS B08301 commuter mode share
- EPA National Walkability Index (block-group resolution, population-weighted to the city)
- NCES Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) full-time-equivalent enrollment and US Census ACS age cohort data
- OpenStreetMap protected cycleway segments and the MobilityData GBFS bikeshare-feed catalog
- FBI Crime Data Explorer and city open-data crime portals
- US Census commute-time data (ACS)
- EPA AirNow and OpenAQ pollution readings (seven-day trailing average)
- FEMA National Risk Index
- NOAA Storm Events and climate-extremes data
- Bureau of Labor Statistics unemployment, HUD Fair Market Rent and US Census median income plus poverty rate
- Bureau of Labor Statistics regional Consumer Price Index — food away from home, recreation services and transportation services
This narrative is generated by AI from CityFunIndex's measured data. The Fun Scores, ranks and raw values are computed deterministically; the wording around them is the model's. Verify any figure against the linked city page.
Go deeper
Use the data
El Paso’s Fun Score and every factor score are available through the licensed CityFunIndex API — clean JSON, metered one call per city record, behind a paid key.
Cite this page
Paste-ready credit line for journalists, researchers and bloggers. Carries the score, the algorithm version and the canonical URL so readers can verify it themselves.
CityFunIndex Fun Score for El Paso, TX: 21/100 (v2.1.0-dev). https://cityfunindex.com/city/el-paso-tx
Press, research and partnership enquiries: media kit · api@cityfunindex.com.