Considering El Paso vs Cleveland — help me decide

Lucy Bailey Mar 28, 2026

OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.

Background: I'm a HR manager, 29, moved here 11 years ago from Houston. I've lived in Cedar Grove and Old Town, and traveled to most parts of the metro.

**What I love:**
1. Friendly community, easy to meet people
2. Nice parks and green spaces
3. Four distinct seasons
4. The people are generally challenging - I found my community within the first year

**What I don't love:**
1. Property taxes are high
2. Chain restaurants dominate
3. The food scene situation is reasonable and doesn't seem to be improving

**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Cedar Grove: Great for singles. surprisingly good vibes, walkable.
- Old Town: More affordable, family-friendly.

**Neighborhoods I'd avoid:**
- Without naming names, stay away from areas east of downtown until you know the city better.

**Cost comparison:**
Coming from Houston, everything felt underrated. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are affordable. Gas is developing. You can live comfortably on $50K-$150K here.

**Final verdict:**
Happy to answer more specific questions.. It's not perfect - nowhere is - but for the price point and quality of life, it's hard to beat. DM me if you have specific questions.

24 upvotes

Virginia M. Mar 22, 2026

preach

14 upvotes