Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chino, CA
VS
Las Cruces, NM
🏆 Chino leads 12 of 23 categories
Chino
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$99,385 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
79 ✓ Safer
Population
91,008
Las Cruces
New Mexico
11
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.
Chino, CA
Pros
Households earn $48,372 more per year on average
58% less violent crime than Las Cruces
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (5.5%)
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 59°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $599,200
Higher rents — median is $2,001/mo
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Las Cruces
Longer commutes — 34.2 min average each way
Las Cruces, NM
Pros
Homes cost $402k less ($197,200 vs $599,200)
Rent averages $1094/mo less ($907 vs $2,001)
Commutes run 15 min shorter each way
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Chino
More college-educated — 36.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.8)
Cons
Median income trails Chino by $48,372/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 5.5%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Chino
Median Income
$48,372
$99,385 vs $51,013/yr
Chino
Violent Crime
58% lower
299.5 vs 720.0 per 100k
Chino
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
5.5% vs 7.5% unemployment
Las Cruces
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 93.8 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Las Cruces
Median Home Value
$402k less
$197,200 vs $599,200
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chino, CA | Las Cruces, NM |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High | 93.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $599,200⚠ High | $197,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,001⚠ High | $907 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $99,385 ✓ Higher | $51,013 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 34.2 min⚠ High | 19.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.1% ✓ Higher | 7.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 89 ✓ Safer | 207⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 79 ✓ Safer | 189⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 105⚠ High ✓ Safer | 232⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | A- (113) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.4:1 | 11.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.1% | 36.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 83.4% | 87.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Chino Valley Unified | LAS CRUCES |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 69.5°F ✓ Warmer | 58.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.7°F | 95.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.0" ✓ Drier | 11.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 1.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,008 | 111,273 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.9 ✓ Older | 31.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.7% ✓ Higher | 53.8% |
| Under 18 | 23.2% ✓ More | 23.0% |
| Over 65 | 12.1% | 15.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chino's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Las Cruces's 93.8 (US average = 100).
Las Cruces is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Chino leads 12 of 23 categories. Chino wins 12 and Las Cruces wins 11. 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 Chino to Las Cruces or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($599,200 vs $197,200 median home), income ($99,385 vs $51,013), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chino, CA and Las Cruces, NM are about 639 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.