Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Albuquerque, NM
VS
Lancaster, CA
🏆 Albuquerque leads 14 of 23 categories
Albuquerque
New Mexico
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$61,503
Violent Crime Index
311⚠ High
Population
562,551 ✓ Larger
Lancaster
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,367 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
220⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
171,465
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Albuquerque, NM
Pros
Rent averages $562/mo less ($1,014 vs $1,576)
Homes cost $123k less ($246,000 vs $368,800)
23% cheaper overall cost of living than Lancaster
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (5.5%)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 37.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (1181.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Lancaster by $9,864/yr
Property crime (4628.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Lancaster, CA
Pros
29% less violent crime than Albuquerque
Households earn $9,864 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 52°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,576/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $368,800
Violent crime (834.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 23% higher than Albuquerque
Key Differences at a Glance
Albuquerque
Cost of Living
23% cheaper
COL index 93.0 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Albuquerque
Median Home Value
$123k less
$246,000 vs $368,800
Albuquerque
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
5.5% vs 7.5% unemployment
Lancaster
Median Income
$9,864
$71,367 vs $61,503/yr
Lancaster
Violent Crime
29% lower
834.7 vs 1181.8 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Albuquerque, NM | Lancaster, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.0 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $246,000 ✓ Lower | $368,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,014 ✓ Lower | $1,576⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $61,503 | $71,367 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.1 min ✓ Shorter | 30.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.0% ✓ Higher | 8.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 275⚠ High | 168⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 311⚠ High | 220⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 220⚠ High | 91 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | C- (63) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.8% ✓ Higher | 19.4% |
| High School or Higher | 90.7% ✓ Higher | 81.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALBUQUERQUE | Lancaster Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.9°F | 58.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.9°F | 97.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.3" | 6.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 7.9" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 562,551 ✓ Larger | 171,465 |
| Median Age | 38.0 ✓ Older | 33.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.7% ✓ Higher | 57.1% |
| Under 18 | 21.0% | 27.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.6% ✓ More | 11.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Albuquerque's cost of living index is 93.0 vs Lancaster's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Albuquerque is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Albuquerque leads 14 of 23 categories. Albuquerque wins 14 and Lancaster wins 9. 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 Lancaster or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($246,000 vs $368,800 median home), income ($61,503 vs $71,367), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Albuquerque, NM and Lancaster, CA are about 654 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.