Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Albuquerque, NM
VS
Fresno, CA
🏆 Albuquerque leads 15 of 23 categories
Albuquerque
New Mexico
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$61,503
Violent Crime Index
311⚠ High
Population
562,551 ✓ Larger
Fresno
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$63,001 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
194⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
541,528
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Albuquerque, NM
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.5 pts lower (5.5%)
Homes cost $76k less ($246,000 vs $321,800)
Rent averages $213/mo less ($1,014 vs $1,227)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Fresno
More college-educated — 37.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.0)
Cons
Violent crime (1181.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4628.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Fresno, CA
Pros
38% less violent crime than Albuquerque
Cons
Violent crime (735.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $321,800
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Albuquerque
Property crime (3271.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Albuquerque
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 93.0 vs 105.0 (100 = US avg)
Albuquerque
Median Home Value
$76k less
$246,000 vs $321,800
Albuquerque
Unemployment
3.5 pp lower
5.5% vs 9.0% unemployment
Fresno
Median Income
$1,498
$63,001 vs $61,503/yr
Fresno
Violent Crime
38% lower
735.5 vs 1181.8 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Albuquerque, NM | Fresno, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.0 ✓ Cheaper | 105.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $246,000 ✓ Lower | $321,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,014 ✓ Lower | $1,227 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $61,503 | $63,001 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.1 min ✓ Shorter | 22.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.0% ✓ Higher | 8.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 275⚠ High | 178⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 311⚠ High | 194⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 220⚠ High | 156⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.8% ✓ Higher | 24.4% |
| High School or Higher | 90.7% ✓ Higher | 79.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALBUQUERQUE | Fresno Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.9°F | 55.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.9°F | 97.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.3" ✓ Drier | 11.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 7.9" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 562,551 ✓ Larger | 541,528 |
| Median Age | 38.0 ✓ Older | 32.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.7% ✓ Higher | 48.1% |
| Under 18 | 21.0% | 27.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.6% ✓ More | 11.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Albuquerque's cost of living index is 93.0 vs Fresno's 105.0 (US average = 100).
Albuquerque is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Albuquerque leads 15 of 23 categories. Albuquerque wins 15 and Fresno wins 8. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Albuquerque to Fresno or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($246,000 vs $321,800 median home), income ($61,503 vs $63,001), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Albuquerque, NM and Fresno, CA are about 744 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.