Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Albuquerque, NM
VS
Sparks, NV
🏆 Albuquerque leads 16 of 23 categories
Albuquerque
New Mexico
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$61,503
Violent Crime Index
311⚠ High
Population
562,551 ✓ Larger
Sparks
Nevada
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$82,938 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
104⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
108,025
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Albuquerque, NM
Pros
Homes cost $178k less ($246,000 vs $423,500)
Rent averages $512/mo less ($1,014 vs $1,526)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (5.5%)
More college-educated — 37.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Sparks
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.0)
Cons
Median income trails Sparks by $21,435/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
Sparks, NV
Pros
67% less violent crime than Albuquerque
Households earn $21,435 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $423,500
Higher rents — median is $1,526/mo
Property crime (2583.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Albuquerque
Key Differences at a Glance
Albuquerque
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 93.0 vs 103.2 (100 = US avg)
Albuquerque
Median Home Value
$178k less
$246,000 vs $423,500
Albuquerque
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
5.5% vs 6.1% unemployment
Sparks
Median Income
$21,435
$82,938 vs $61,503/yr
Sparks
Violent Crime
67% lower
394.4 vs 1181.8 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Albuquerque, NM | Sparks, NV |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.0 ✓ Cheaper | 103.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $246,000 ✓ Lower | $423,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,014 ✓ Lower | $1,526⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $61,503 | $82,938 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.1 min ✓ Shorter | 23.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.0% ✓ Higher | 7.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 275⚠ High | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 311⚠ High | 104⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 220⚠ High | 123⚠ 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 | 19.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.8% ✓ Higher | 25.4% |
| High School or Higher | 90.7% ✓ Higher | 85.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALBUQUERQUE | Washoe County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.9°F ✓ Warmer | 48.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.9°F ✓ Warmer | 92.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.3" | 8.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 7.9" | 6.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 562,551 ✓ Larger | 108,025 |
| Median Age | 38.0 ✓ Older | 37.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.7% ✓ Higher | 59.4% |
| Under 18 | 21.0% | 23.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.6% ✓ More | 15.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Albuquerque's cost of living index is 93.0 vs Sparks's 103.2 (US average = 100).
Albuquerque is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Albuquerque leads 16 of 23 categories. Albuquerque wins 16 and Sparks wins 7. 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 Sparks or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($246,000 vs $423,500 median home), income ($61,503 vs $82,938), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Albuquerque, NM and Sparks, NV are about 781 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.