Home > TX > El Paso > Where to Live Now > 7 Reasons to Move to El Paso, TX
7 Reasons to Move to El Paso, TX
Situated right across the U.S.-Mexico border from Ciudad Juarez, El Paso enjoys an eclectic, exciting, culture
By Laura Hill on January 18, 2016
El Paso / Frank Ordoñez
Thinking of moving to Texas? Consider El Paso, which is situated right across the U.S.-Mexico border from Ciudad Juarez and offers an eclectic, exciting, culture that blends Mexican, Anglo and Western elements to create a unique heritage. Set in a striking landscape, this modern community is laid-back but sophisticated, and with a population of about 650,000 people is growing but still welcoming. Here are seven reasons to consider moving to El Paso:
1. The sun shines in El Paso about 82 percent of the time.
Think about what 300-plus days of sunshine each year really means. Feel the warmth on your skin. Got it? In El Paso, you can play year round, whether it's golf, hiking, biking, swimming, birding, climbing mountains or just relaxing in a deck chair as you enjoy the rays. The city's glorious weather means year-round festivals, music and art events – don't miss Music Under the Stars each summer and the Neon Desert Music Festival. Among the city's 240 municipal parks, the El Paso Municipal Rose Garden is a unique gem.
Moving to Texas? Here are the Basics
2. Education in El Paso gets excellent grades.
Outstanding public schools in three school districts make El Paso families happy and well educated. El Paso Community College serves 35,000 students. The University of Texas at El Paso is observing its 100th anniversary in 2014. And the Paul Foster School of Medicine at Texas Tech University added options for the community when it expanded into a four-year medical school in 2009. The first medical school on the U.S.-Mexico border, it is expected to have a $10 billion impact on the local economy.
3. El Pasoans eat well.
From classic Italian to authentic Tex-Mex, barbecue to fine dining, El Paso's dinner table is varied and inviting. One refreshing new face on the food scene is the Mustard Seed Community Café, where customers are served fresh, locally sourced dishes and then asked to pay whatever they can. The café's motto: Eat, share, help, love, enjoy!
4. You'll never run out of things to do in El Paso.
Dodgeball, volleyball, kickball, soccer and basketball – you can play it all here in a modern, multipurpose gyms. Or head outdoors to the Franklin Mountains, right in town, or the Hueco Tanks State Park nearby. Golf at nationally saluted courses, or discover 240 species of animals at the El Paso Zoo.
Best Places to Live in Texas
5. El Paso's cultural scene embraces all types of art.
Culture vulture? You'll be delighted by El Paso's many arts offerings. The city's museums are first-rate, from the El Paso Museum of Art to the El Paso Museum of History, which celebrates the city's vibrant multicultural heritage. The El Paso Symphony has been serenading the community for more than 75 years, and the El Paso Chamber Music Festival has been running every January for decades. For theater and performing arts, check out the Plaza Theatre and the Abraham Chavez Theatre.
6. You can go to new heights for a world-class view.
The Wyler Aerial Tramway thrills visitors and residents alike. A winding road to the top of the Franklin Mountains takes you to 4,692 feet. From there, catch a Swiss-made gondola, which smoothly pulls you to the top of Ranger Peak, 5,632 miles high. Guides explain the wildlife you'll see, and the view of the El Paso area is simply breathtaking.
7. El Paso's deep roots mean much to explore for historians.
El Paso's roots date back to the 16th century, and there are plenty of historic sites and buildings to explore. A visit to the Ysleta Mission recalls its stirring beginnings in 1682 and its subsequent importance to the native Tigua people who helped build it. For more modern history, take a walking tour of downtown El Paso, or stop and unwind at Kern Place, an historic neighborhood near UTEP whose bars and entertainment options are a favorite with students.