Las Cruces (cropped) · Wikimedia Commons / Public domainNMSU BransonLibrary · Terry Umbenhaur / CC BY-SA 3.0Las Cruces NM - street scenery (cropped) · Kathy Kimpel / CC BY 2.0Rio Grande Theatre Las Cruces New Mexico · AllenS / Public domain
Las Cruces is a mid-sized city of 111,273 in New Mexico, with a median household income of $51,013
and a 7.5% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 94 (US average = 100), which is
6% below the national average.
Strengths:
Las Cruces stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (A-), a well-educated population, short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include a higher-than-average crime index, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Las Cruces is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Las Cruces city data on this page comes from official government sources —
the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 93.8
Las Cruces's overall cost of living index is 93.8,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Las Cruces costs roughly 6% less than the average American city.
Metric
Las Cruces, NM
National Avg
Median Home Value
$197,200
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$907
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
53.8%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$51,013
$74,755
Crime & Safety
High Crime
Las Cruces's violent crime rate is 720.0 per 100,000 residents
— 89% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
720.0 /100k
Property Crime
4873.4 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Las Cruces is served primarily by LAS CRUCES.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.2:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Las Cruces, NM
National Avg
School District
LAS CRUCES
—
Elementary Schools
25
—
Middle Schools
8
—
High Schools
6
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
11.2:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
36.3%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
87.7%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Las Cruces sees average highs of 58.9°F in January
and 95.6°F in July,
with 11.0 inches of annual precipitation
and 1.0 inches of snow per year.
Las Cruces's cost of living index is 94, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Las Cruces roughly 6% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $197,200 and median rent is $907/month.
Las Cruces's violent crime rate is 720.0 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 4873.4 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Las Cruces are operated by LAS CRUCES.
The district has 25 elementary, 8 middle, and 6 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.2:1. 36.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Las Cruces, NM has a population of 111,273, a median household income of $51,013, and an unemployment rate of 7.5%.
It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Las Cruces averages 58.9°F in January and 95.6°F in July. Annual rainfall is 11.0 inches
with about 1.0 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Las Cruces, NM is covered by 5 ZIP codes: 88011, 88007, 88005, 88012, 88001.
The population of Las Cruces, New Mexico is 111,273 with a median age of 31.8. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Las Cruces: cost of living index 94 (100 = US average), median home $197,200, median household income $51,013, crime index 207 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Las Cruces side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
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