Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carrollton, TX
VS
Las Cruces, NM
🏆 Carrollton leads 13 of 23 categories
Carrollton
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$95,380 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
36 ✓ Safer
Population
132,284 ✓ Larger
Las Cruces
New Mexico
10
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.
Carrollton, TX
Pros
Households earn $44,367 more per year on average
81% less violent crime than Las Cruces
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.8 pts lower (3.7%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (137.1 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 42.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,555/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $327,300
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Las Cruces
Las Cruces, NM
Pros
Rent averages $648/mo less ($907 vs $1,555)
Homes cost $130k less ($197,200 vs $327,300)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Carrollton
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.8)
Smaller class sizes — 11.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Carrollton by $44,367/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 3.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Carrollton
Median Income
$44,367
$95,380 vs $51,013/yr
Carrollton
Violent Crime
81% lower
137.1 vs 720.0 per 100k
Carrollton
Unemployment
3.8 pp lower
3.7% 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
$130k less
$197,200 vs $327,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carrollton, 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 | $327,300⚠ High | $197,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,555⚠ High | $907 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $95,380 ✓ Higher | $51,013 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% ✓ Lower | 7.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.4 min | 19.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 17.8% ✓ Higher | 7.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 47 ✓ Safer | 207⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 36 ✓ Safer | 189⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 63 ✓ Safer | 232⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (119) ✓ Better | A- (113) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.5:1 | 11.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.1% ✓ Higher | 36.3% |
| High School or Higher | 89.4% ✓ Higher | 87.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | CARROLLTON-FARMERS BRANCH ISD | LAS CRUCES |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.9°F | 58.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.3°F | 95.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.8" | 11.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" ✓ Less | 1.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 132,284 ✓ Larger | 111,273 |
| Median Age | 38.6 ✓ Older | 31.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.3% ✓ Higher | 53.8% |
| Under 18 | 19.9% | 23.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.9% | 15.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carrollton'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, Carrollton leads 13 of 23 categories. Carrollton wins 13 and Las Cruces wins 10. 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 Carrollton to Las Cruces or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($327,300 vs $197,200 median home), income ($95,380 vs $51,013), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carrollton, TX and Las Cruces, NM are about 577 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.