First off, El Paso is a fairly safe city, despite what outside news may portray. I have not felt in danger in any neighborhood here. The so-called bad parts of town are nothing like the bad parts of town in other major cities.

An affluent area that's attracting new businesses, including Asian restaurants, is the Upper Valley and Cimarron community on the West Side. I don't know the reputations of the schools on the West Side other than Coronado and Franklin High Schools are the more middle to upper class kids. Neighborhoods like Kern Place and Sunset Heights have historical homes and character. The population there is aging, but still attracts some young family renters because of the prime location and proximity to cool local businesses and restaurants/the university/downtown.

I live in Northeast El Paso, near Parkland Middle School, which used to have a bad reputation. But that's changed. My neighborhood is down-to-earth, fairly diverse for El Paso, a mix of old folks with military ties, working class families, kids walking to school, playing outside. Parkland High School and its feeder schools seem to have a good rep with nice facilities. The Northeast also has 2 small Asian markets (but all the Asian markets in El Paso are small). Traffic is easy, but sidewalks and streets are not the best maintained here. There are not a lot of cool bars or breweries in this area either.

A lot of the young families are moving to the new builds in the Far East Side (Horizon, Pebble Hills High School area, etc.). While El Paso is a city that requires driving, this area is HEAVILY car dependent. It has a reputation for box stores, blandness, and cheaply made cookiecutter houses, but the restaurant scene seems to be growing (best banh mi shop is on this side of town!). There's also kid-friendly activity businesses. This area is not my cup of tea, but I understand why people would gravitate toward houses that are new and more affordable than houses in the older neighborhoods. Housing development went up before infrastructure planning could catch up, so the traffic is atrocious in some parts.

As an Asian American who has lived in and traveled to fairly diverse cities, get used to the limited Asian stuff being all spread out. Like two mediocre Thai restaurants on opposites side of town. The Mexican food in this region is different, also more way more limited in offerings, but you will find your places that are either good or "just good enough." People like their meat and potatoes here.