Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chico, CA
VS
Las Cruces, NM
🏆 Las Cruces leads 13 of 23 categories
Chico
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$65,932 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
184⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
102,790
Las Cruces
New Mexico
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$51,013
Violent Crime Index
189⚠ High
Population
111,273 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chico, CA
Pros
Households earn $14,919 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (6.9%)
More college-educated — 41.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $427,600
Higher rents — median is $1,360/mo
Violent crime (699.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Las Cruces
Las Cruces, NM
Pros
Homes cost $230k less ($197,200 vs $427,600)
Rent averages $453/mo less ($907 vs $1,360)
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Chico
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.8)
Smaller class sizes — 11.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (720.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Chico by $14,919/yr
Property crime (4873.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Chico
Median Income
$14,919
$65,932 vs $51,013/yr
Chico
Violent Crime
3% lower
699.2 vs 720.0 per 100k
Chico
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
6.9% vs 7.5% unemployment
Las Cruces
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 93.8 vs 104.6 (100 = US avg)
Las Cruces
Median Home Value
$230k less
$197,200 vs $427,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chico, CA | Las Cruces, NM |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.6⚠ High | 93.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $427,600⚠ High | $197,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,360⚠ High | $907 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $65,932 ✓ Higher | $51,013 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.5 min ✓ Shorter | 19.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.5% ✓ Higher | 7.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 147⚠ High ✓ Safer | 207⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 184⚠ High ✓ Safer | 189⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 90 ✓ Safer | 232⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (112) | A- (113) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 | 11.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 41.3% ✓ Higher | 36.3% |
| High School or Higher | 93.2% ✓ Higher | 87.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Inspire School of Arts and Sciences District | LAS CRUCES |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.1°F | 58.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.2°F | 95.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 28.3" | 11.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" ✓ Less | 1.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 102,790 | 111,273 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.4 | 31.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.1% | 53.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.7% | 23.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 15.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chico's cost of living index is 104.6 vs Las Cruces's 93.8 (US average = 100).
Las Cruces is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Las Cruces leads 13 of 23 categories. Chico wins 10 and Las Cruces wins 13. 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 Chico to Las Cruces or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($427,600 vs $197,200 median home), income ($65,932 vs $51,013), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chico, CA and Las Cruces, NM are about 982 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.