Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Albuquerque, NM
VS
Midland, TX
🏆 Albuquerque leads 12 of 23 categories
Albuquerque
New Mexico
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$61,503
Violent Crime Index
311⚠ High
Population
562,551 ✓ Larger
Midland
Texas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.8
Median Household Income
$90,448 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
96 ✓ Safer
Population
132,490
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Albuquerque, NM
Pros
Rent averages $386/mo less ($1,014 vs $1,400)
Homes cost $35k less ($246,000 vs $280,700)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.0)
More college-educated — 37.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 12.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Midland by $28,945/yr
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
Higher unemployment (5.5% vs 3.2%)
Midland, TX
Pros
69% less violent crime than Albuquerque
Households earn $28,945 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (3.2%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.8)
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 52°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,400/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Albuquerque
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 93.0 vs 94.8 (100 = US avg)
Albuquerque
Median Home Value
$35k less
$246,000 vs $280,700
Midland
Median Income
$28,945
$90,448 vs $61,503/yr
Midland
Violent Crime
69% lower
364.9 vs 1181.8 per 100k
Midland
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
3.2% vs 5.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Albuquerque, NM | Midland, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.0 ✓ Cheaper | 94.8 |
| Median Home Value | $246,000 ✓ Lower | $280,700 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,014 ✓ Lower | $1,400⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $61,503 | $90,448 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 3.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.1 min | 19.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.0% ✓ Higher | 5.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 275⚠ High | 88 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 311⚠ High | 96 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 220⚠ High | 77 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | C+ (83) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.8% ✓ Higher | 31.8% |
| High School or Higher | 90.7% ✓ Higher | 84.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALBUQUERQUE | MIDLAND ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.9°F | 60.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.9°F | 95.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.3" ✓ Drier | 16.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 7.9" | 1.9" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 562,551 ✓ Larger | 132,490 |
| Median Age | 38.0 ✓ Older | 31.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.7% | 63.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.0% | 28.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.6% ✓ More | 10.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Albuquerque's cost of living index is 93.0 vs Midland's 94.8 (US average = 100).
Albuquerque is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Albuquerque leads 12 of 23 categories. Albuquerque wins 12 and Midland wins 11. 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 Midland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($246,000 vs $280,700 median home), income ($61,503 vs $90,448), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Albuquerque, NM and Midland, TX are about 337 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.