Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arlington, TX
VS
Las Cruces, NM
🏆 Arlington leads 12 of 23 categories
Arlington
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,736 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
393,469 ✓ Larger
Las Cruces
New Mexico
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.8 ✓ Cheaper
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.
Arlington, TX
Pros
Households earn $20,723 more per year on average
33% less violent crime than Las Cruces
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (5.6%)
Cons
Violent crime (482.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Las Cruces
Las Cruces, NM
Pros
Rent averages $390/mo less ($907 vs $1,297)
Homes cost $54k less ($197,200 vs $251,300)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Arlington
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.8)
More college-educated — 36.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Arlington by $20,723/yr
Violent crime (720.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4873.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.5% vs 5.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Arlington
Median Income
$20,723
$71,736 vs $51,013/yr
Arlington
Violent Crime
33% lower
482.9 vs 720.0 per 100k
Arlington
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
5.6% vs 7.5% unemployment
Las Cruces
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 93.8 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Las Cruces
Median Home Value
$54k less
$197,200 vs $251,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arlington, TX | Las Cruces, NM |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 93.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $251,300 | $197,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,297 | $907 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,736 ✓ Higher | $51,013 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.9 min | 19.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% ✓ Higher | 7.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 122⚠ High ✓ Safer | 207⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer | 189⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer | 232⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) | A- (113) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 | 11.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.4% | 36.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 85.9% | 87.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ARLINGTON ISD | LAS CRUCES |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.9°F | 58.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.9°F ✓ Warmer | 95.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.2" | 11.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.8" ✓ Less | 1.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 393,469 ✓ Larger | 111,273 |
| Median Age | 33.1 ✓ Older | 31.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.9% ✓ Higher | 53.8% |
| Under 18 | 25.3% ✓ More | 23.0% |
| Over 65 | 11.1% | 15.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arlington's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Las Cruces's 93.8 (US average = 100).
Las Cruces is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Arlington leads 12 of 23 categories. Arlington 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 Arlington to Las Cruces or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($251,300 vs $197,200 median home), income ($71,736 vs $51,013), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arlington, TX and Las Cruces, NM are about 564 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.