Known as one of the premier cities for international trade due to its location along the U.S./Mexico border, El Paso is one of the best places in the Lone Star State to call home. People who live in El Paso apartments for rent will be happy to know that the city has been ranked as "America's Safest City," according to the city's official website. El Paso has also been recognized as one of the happiest cities to work and one of the country's best performing cities. If that wasn't enough, people who live in apartments in El Paso also enjoy 300 days of sunshine a year, so it seems as though this city has it all.

The warm and sunny climate gives residents in El Paso apartments for rent plenty of reason to enjoy the quality parks, open space and numerous recreational activities that the city has to offer. There are several popular neighborhoods for apartments in El Paso, including Alfalfa, Newman, Tigua, Mission Hills and Ysleta. According to the U.S. Census, El Paso is home to more than 650,000 residents, so people who live in El Paso can enjoy living with big-city amenities. However, with the numerous neighborhoods in the area, many citizens here feel like they have a small-town atmosphere that so many renters enjoy.

The city of El Paso is on the rise, according to City-Data. From 2000 to 2011, the city rose in population by more than 15 percent. One of the biggest reasons for this sudden jump is the astoundingly low cost of living index for people living in El Paso apartments for rent. The overall rate is around 17 percent below the national average, making El Paso one of the most affordable places in the Lone Star State to call home. AreaVibes also found that the cost of a gallon of gas in the area is around $3.54, which is similar to other cities in the state.

Some of the most popular colleges and universities for students living in El Paso apartments include the University of Texas at El Paso and El Paso Community College. The leading industries in El Paso are in food production, clothing, construction materials and plastics, according to City-Data.

Many of the area's residents also live and work at Fort Bliss, one of the largest U.S. Army complexes in the country. The fort is located to the east and northeast of El Paso.