Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bridgeport, CT
VS
Las Cruces, NM
🏆 Las Cruces leads 17 of 23 categories
Bridgeport
Connecticut
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$54,440 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
103⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
148,470 ✓ Larger
Las Cruces
New Mexico
17
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.
Bridgeport, CT
Pros
45% less violent crime than Las Cruces
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 96°F
Households earn $3,427 more per year on average
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,369/mo
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Las Cruces
Higher unemployment (9.5% vs 7.5%)
Longer commutes — 28.9 min average each way
Las Cruces, NM
Pros
Rent averages $462/mo less ($907 vs $1,369)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (7.5%)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Homes cost $30k less ($197,200 vs $227,200)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Bridgeport
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 38°F
Cons
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
Median income trails Bridgeport by $3,427/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Bridgeport
Median Income
$3,427
$54,440 vs $51,013/yr
Bridgeport
Violent Crime
45% lower
392.9 vs 720.0 per 100k
Las Cruces
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 93.8 vs 106.5 (100 = US avg)
Las Cruces
Median Home Value
$30k less
$197,200 vs $227,200
Las Cruces
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
7.5% vs 9.5% unemployment
Las Cruces
Summer Heat
12.2°F warmer
July avg high 95.6°F vs 83.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bridgeport, CT | Las Cruces, NM |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.5⚠ High | 93.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $227,200 | $197,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,369⚠ High | $907 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,440 ✓ Higher | $51,013 |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.5%⚠ High | 7.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.9 min⚠ High | 19.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.0% | 7.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 90 ✓ Safer | 207⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer | 189⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 232⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | A- (113) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.6:1 | 11.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.7% | 36.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 80.0% | 87.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bridgeport School District | LAS CRUCES |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.4°F | 58.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.4°F | 95.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.1" | 11.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.6" | 1.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 148,470 ✓ Larger | 111,273 |
| Median Age | 37.5 ✓ Older | 31.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.2% | 53.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.7% | 23.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 15.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bridgeport's cost of living index is 106.5 vs Las Cruces's 93.8 (US average = 100).
Las Cruces is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Las Cruces leads 17 of 23 categories. Bridgeport wins 6 and Las Cruces wins 17. 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 Bridgeport to Las Cruces or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($227,200 vs $197,200 median home), income ($54,440 vs $51,013), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bridgeport, CT and Las Cruces, NM are about 1,944 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.