Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chicago, IL
VS
Las Cruces, NM
🏆 Las Cruces leads 14 of 23 categories
Chicago
Illinois
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,673 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
142⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
2,721,914 ✓ Larger
Las Cruces
New Mexico
14
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.
Chicago, IL
Pros
Households earn $20,660 more per year on average
25% less violent crime than Las Cruces
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 96°F
More college-educated — 42.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (539.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3472.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Las Cruces
Longer commutes — 34.1 min average each way
Las Cruces, NM
Pros
Homes cost $107k less ($197,200 vs $304,500)
Rent averages $407/mo less ($907 vs $1,314)
Commutes run 15 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 32°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (7.5%)
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Chicago
Cons
Median income trails Chicago by $20,660/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
Key Differences at a Glance
Chicago
Median Income
$20,660
$71,673 vs $51,013/yr
Chicago
Violent Crime
25% lower
539.8 vs 720.0 per 100k
Las Cruces
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 93.8 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Las Cruces
Median Home Value
$107k less
$197,200 vs $304,500
Las Cruces
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
7.5% vs 8.2% unemployment
Las Cruces
Summer Heat
14.6°F warmer
July avg high 95.6°F vs 81.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chicago, IL | Las Cruces, NM |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High | 93.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $304,500 | $197,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,314 | $907 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,673 ✓ Higher | $51,013 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.2%⚠ High | 7.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 34.1 min⚠ High | 19.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 15.6% ✓ Higher | 7.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 151⚠ High ✓ Safer | 207⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 142⚠ High ✓ Safer | 189⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 165⚠ High ✓ Safer | 232⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (118) ✓ Better | A- (113) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 | 11.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.4% ✓ Higher | 36.3% |
| High School or Higher | 86.6% | 87.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Chicago Public Schools Dist 299 | LAS CRUCES |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.9°F | 58.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.0°F | 95.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 34.4" | 11.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 38.8" | 1.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 2,721,914 ✓ Larger | 111,273 |
| Median Age | 35.3 ✓ Older | 31.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.6% | 53.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 23.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.3% | 15.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chicago's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Las Cruces's 93.8 (US average = 100).
Las Cruces is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Las Cruces leads 14 of 23 categories. Chicago wins 9 and Las Cruces wins 14. 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 Chicago to Las Cruces or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($304,500 vs $197,200 median home), income ($71,673 vs $51,013), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chicago, IL and Las Cruces, NM are about 1,237 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.