Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cambridge, MA
VS
Las Cruces, NM
🏆 Las Cruces leads 12 of 23 categories
Cambridge
Massachusetts
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$121,539 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
115⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
117,962 ✓ Larger
Las Cruces
New Mexico
12
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.
Cambridge, MA
Pros
Households earn $70,526 more per year on average
39% less violent crime than Las Cruces
More college-educated — 79.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.2 pts lower (3.3%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 96°F
Smaller class sizes — 9.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $997,600
Higher rents — median is $2,628/mo
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Las Cruces
Property crime (2644.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Las Cruces, NM
Pros
Homes cost $800k less ($197,200 vs $997,600)
Rent averages $1721/mo less ($907 vs $2,628)
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Cambridge
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 37°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.8)
Cons
Median income trails Cambridge by $70,526/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 3.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Cambridge
Median Income
$70,526
$121,539 vs $51,013/yr
Cambridge
Violent Crime
39% lower
436.7 vs 720.0 per 100k
Cambridge
Unemployment
4.2 pp lower
3.3% vs 7.5% unemployment
Las Cruces
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 93.8 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Las Cruces
Median Home Value
$800k less
$197,200 vs $997,600
Las Cruces
Summer Heat
10.9°F warmer
July avg high 95.6°F vs 84.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cambridge, MA | Las Cruces, NM |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 93.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $997,600⚠ High | $197,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,628⚠ High | $907 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $121,539 ✓ Higher | $51,013 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.3% ✓ Lower | 7.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.2 min | 19.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 25.1% ✓ Higher | 7.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 119⚠ High ✓ Safer | 207⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 115⚠ 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 | A+ (135) ✓ Better | A- (113) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 9.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 11.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 79.9% ✓ Higher | 36.3% |
| High School or Higher | 95.6% ✓ Higher | 87.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cambridge | LAS CRUCES |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 37.0°F | 58.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.7°F | 95.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.3" | 11.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.2" | 1.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 117,962 ✓ Larger | 111,273 |
| Median Age | 30.6 | 31.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 33.6% | 53.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 12.2% | 23.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.9% | 15.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cambridge's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Las Cruces's 93.8 (US average = 100).
Las Cruces is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Las Cruces leads 12 of 23 categories. Cambridge wins 11 and Las Cruces wins 12. 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 Cambridge to Las Cruces or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($997,600 vs $197,200 median home), income ($121,539 vs $51,013), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cambridge, MA and Las Cruces, NM are about 2,061 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.