Updated July 2026Zillow Research
El Paso vs Houston: real estate market, July 2026
A side-by-side housing-market snapshot for El Paso, TX and Houston, TX for July 2026: El Paso at a $256K median versus $307K in Houston, plus days to pending and the buyer-vs-seller balance, built on Zillow Research figures.
| Metric | El Paso, TX | Houston, TX |
|---|---|---|
| Median sale price | $256K ▲ +4.3% | $307K ▲ +0.3% |
| Days to pending | 72 ▲ +9.1% | 71 ▲ +12.7% |
| Homes for sale | 2,752 ▼ -21.3% | 13,082 ▲ +0.9% |
| Sale-to-list | 98.9% ▲ +0.2% | 97.2% ▼ -0.1% |
| Months of supply (est.) | 3.1 ▼ -8.6% | 3.9 ▼ -0.6% |
| Homes sold (est.) | 980 ▲ +3.9% | 4,210 ▲ +0.3% |
(est.) = LOKAL estimate, not published by the source at city level.
Metro figures from Zillow Research, ZIP figures from Zillow Research where published, otherwise from the last public Redfin release (each post names its source). Verify against your MLS before posting.
The verdict
As of July 2026, El Paso is the more affordable of the two at a $255,916 median sale price, about 17% below Houston ($306,754). Houston is the faster-moving market, with homes going under contract in about 71 days versus 72 in El Paso.
Which market fits your client?
For a buyer client, Houston offers a little more breathing room, with an estimated 3.9 months of supply against 3.1 in El Paso, which usually means less bidding pressure. For a seller client, El Paso is the tighter market, with a 98.9% sale-to-list ratio. On price momentum, El Paso is appreciating faster (+4.3% vs +0.3% year over year).
How we compare these markets
We built LOKAL to pull El Paso's and Houston's numbers straight from Zillow Research, so an agent and a client compare like for like. For July 2026 we recorded a $256K median in El Paso and a $307K median in Houston, against roughly $245K a year earlier in 2025. Zillow Research has published these city-level series monthly since 2018, which is what lets us show year-over-year change here in 2026. For complementary demographics on each metro (population and median household income), see the U.S. Census Bureau. LOKAL is independent and not affiliated with Zillow; always verify against your MLS before you publish.
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LOKAL builds the finished carousel, story and square, with these Zillow Research figures already in place, for El Paso or Houston.
Full El Paso and Houston market updates
Frequently asked
- Is El Paso or Houston more affordable?
- As of July 2026, El Paso is the more affordable market at a $255,916 median sale price, about 17% below Houston ($306,754), per Zillow Research.
- Which market moves faster, El Paso or Houston?
- Houston moves faster: a typical listing goes under contract in about 71 days, versus 72 days in El Paso (July 2026).
- Is El Paso or Houston better for buyers right now?
- Houston gives buyers a little more room, with an estimated 3.9 months of supply versus 3.1 in El Paso. More months of supply usually means less competition and more negotiating leverage for buyers.
- Where do these El Paso and Houston numbers come from?
- Both metros draw on Zillow Research, refreshed monthly. LOKAL turns the figures into a ready-to-post carousel, story and square for either city. LOKAL is not affiliated with Zillow; always verify against your local MLS before quoting figures to clients.
More El Paso comparisons
Data from Zillow Research. Figures are metro-level snapshots, not valuations for a specific home.