Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Austin, TX
VS
Las Cruces, NM
🏆 Austin leads 14 of 23 categories
Austin
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6
Median Household Income
$86,556 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
123⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
958,202 ✓ Larger
Las Cruces
New Mexico
9
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.
Austin, TX
Pros
Households earn $35,543 more per year on average
35% less violent crime than Las Cruces
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.1 pts lower (4.4%)
More college-educated — 56.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $461,500
Higher rents — median is $1,549/mo
Violent crime (466.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3241.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Las Cruces, NM
Pros
Homes cost $264k less ($197,200 vs $461,500)
Rent averages $642/mo less ($907 vs $1,549)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.8)
Smaller class sizes — 11.2:1 student-teacher ratio
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Austin
Cons
Median income trails Austin by $35,543/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 4.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Austin
Median Income
$35,543
$86,556 vs $51,013/yr
Austin
Violent Crime
35% lower
466.9 vs 720.0 per 100k
Austin
Unemployment
3.1 pp lower
4.4% vs 7.5% unemployment
Las Cruces
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 93.8 vs 97.6 (100 = US avg)
Las Cruces
Median Home Value
$264k less
$197,200 vs $461,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Austin, TX | Las Cruces, NM |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 | 93.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $461,500⚠ High | $197,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,549⚠ High | $907 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,556 ✓ Higher | $51,013 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.1 min | 19.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 22.9% ✓ Higher | 7.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 135⚠ High ✓ Safer | 207⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 123⚠ High ✓ Safer | 189⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 154⚠ High ✓ Safer | 232⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (133) ✓ Better | A- (113) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.0:1 | 11.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 56.5% ✓ Higher | 36.3% |
| High School or Higher | 91.1% ✓ Higher | 87.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | AUSTIN ISD | LAS CRUCES |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.5°F ✓ Warmer | 58.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.6°F ✓ Warmer | 95.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.2" | 11.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 1.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 958,202 ✓ Larger | 111,273 |
| Median Age | 34.2 ✓ Older | 31.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.4% | 53.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.7% | 23.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 9.8% | 15.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Austin's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Las Cruces's 93.8 (US average = 100).
Las Cruces is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Austin leads 14 of 23 categories. Austin wins 14 and Las Cruces 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 Austin to Las Cruces or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($461,500 vs $197,200 median home), income ($86,556 vs $51,013), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Austin, TX and Las Cruces, NM are about 551 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.