Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Amarillo, TX
VS
Las Cruces, NM
🏆 Amarillo leads 12 of 23 categories
Amarillo
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,628 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
182⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
200,360 ✓ Larger
Las Cruces
New Mexico
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.8
Median Household Income
$51,013
Violent Crime Index
189⚠ High
Population
111,273
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Amarillo, TX
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.0 pts lower (3.5%)
4% less violent crime than Las Cruces
Households earn $9,615 more per year on average
Homes cost $25k less ($172,700 vs $197,200)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Las Cruces
Cons
Violent crime (690.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2655.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Las Cruces, NM
Pros
More college-educated — 36.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $90/mo less ($907 vs $997)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.8)
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 51°F
Smaller class sizes — 11.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (720.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Amarillo by $9,615/yr
Property crime (4873.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.5% vs 3.5%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Amarillo
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 93.8 (100 = US avg)
Amarillo
Median Income
$9,615
$60,628 vs $51,013/yr
Amarillo
Violent Crime
4% lower
690.5 vs 720.0 per 100k
Amarillo
Median Home Value
$25k less
$172,700 vs $197,200
Amarillo
Unemployment
4.0 pp lower
3.5% vs 7.5% unemployment
Las Cruces
Summer Heat
3.6°F warmer
July avg high 95.6°F vs 92.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Amarillo, TX | Las Cruces, NM |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper | 93.8 |
| Median Home Value | $172,700 ✓ Lower | $197,200 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $997 | $907 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,628 ✓ Higher | $51,013 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.5% ✓ Lower | 7.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.5 min ✓ Shorter | 19.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% | 7.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 160⚠ High ✓ Safer | 207⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 182⚠ High ✓ Safer | 189⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer | 232⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | A- (113) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 | 11.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.2% | 36.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.1% | 87.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | AMARILLO ISD | LAS CRUCES |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.7°F | 58.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F | 95.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.7" | 11.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 17.2" | 1.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 200,360 ✓ Larger | 111,273 |
| Median Age | 34.4 ✓ Older | 31.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.6% ✓ Higher | 53.8% |
| Under 18 | 26.5% ✓ More | 23.0% |
| Over 65 | 14.5% | 15.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Amarillo's cost of living index is 90.8 vs Las Cruces's 93.8 (US average = 100).
Amarillo is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Amarillo leads 12 of 23 categories. Amarillo wins 12 and Las Cruces 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 Amarillo to Las Cruces or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($172,700 vs $197,200 median home), income ($60,628 vs $51,013), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Amarillo, TX and Las Cruces, NM are about 347 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.