Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Compton, CA
VS
Las Cruces, NM
🏆 Las Cruces leads 16 of 23 categories
Compton
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$69,728 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
335⚠ High
Population
94,822
Las Cruces
New Mexico
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$51,013
Violent Crime Index
189⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
111,273 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Compton, CA
Pros
Households earn $18,715 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 96°F
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 59°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $489,400
Higher rents — median is $1,464/mo
Violent crime (1271.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 22% higher than Las Cruces
Las Cruces, NM
Pros
Homes cost $292k less ($197,200 vs $489,400)
Rent averages $557/mo less ($907 vs $1,464)
43% less violent crime than Compton
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Compton
More college-educated — 36.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Compton by $18,715/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
Compton
Median Income
$18,715
$69,728 vs $51,013/yr
Las Cruces
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 93.8 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Las Cruces
Violent Crime
43% lower
720.0 vs 1271.7 per 100k
Las Cruces
Median Home Value
$292k less
$197,200 vs $489,400
Las Cruces
Summer Heat
18.4°F warmer
July avg high 95.6°F vs 77.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Compton, CA | Las Cruces, NM |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 93.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $489,400⚠ High | $197,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,464⚠ High | $907 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $69,728 ✓ Higher | $51,013 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.9%⚠ High | 7.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.8 min⚠ High | 19.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 3.3% | 7.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 261⚠ High | 207⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 335⚠ High | 189⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 150⚠ High ✓ Safer | 232⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (77) | A- (113) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.0:1 | 11.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 10.4% | 36.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 63.8% | 87.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Compton Unified | LAS CRUCES |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.3°F ✓ Warmer | 58.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 77.2°F | 95.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.8" | 11.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 1.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,822 | 111,273 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.4 ✓ Older | 31.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.4% ✓ Higher | 53.8% |
| Under 18 | 27.9% ✓ More | 23.0% |
| Over 65 | 10.4% | 15.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Compton's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Las Cruces's 93.8 (US average = 100).
Las Cruces is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Las Cruces leads 16 of 23 categories. Compton wins 7 and Las Cruces wins 16. 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 Compton to Las Cruces or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($489,400 vs $197,200 median home), income ($69,728 vs $51,013), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Compton, CA and Las Cruces, NM are about 670 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.