Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Concord, CA
VS
Las Cruces, NM
🏆 Concord leads 13 of 23 categories
Concord
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$107,789 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
128⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
125,007 ✓ 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.
Concord, CA
Pros
Households earn $56,776 more per year on average
33% less violent crime than Las Cruces
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.6 pts lower (4.9%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 88°F vs 96°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $706,700
Higher rents — median is $2,137/mo
Violent crime (484.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 24% higher than Las Cruces
Las Cruces, NM
Pros
Homes cost $510k less ($197,200 vs $706,700)
Rent averages $1230/mo less ($907 vs $2,137)
24% cheaper overall cost of living than Concord
Commutes run 15 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.8)
Smaller class sizes — 11.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Concord by $56,776/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 4.9%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Concord
Median Income
$56,776
$107,789 vs $51,013/yr
Concord
Violent Crime
33% lower
484.6 vs 720.0 per 100k
Concord
Unemployment
2.6 pp lower
4.9% vs 7.5% unemployment
Las Cruces
Cost of Living
24% cheaper
COL index 93.8 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Las Cruces
Median Home Value
$510k less
$197,200 vs $706,700
Las Cruces
Summer Heat
7.6°F warmer
July avg high 95.6°F vs 88.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Concord, CA | Las Cruces, NM |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 93.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $706,700⚠ High | $197,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,137⚠ High | $907 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $107,789 ✓ Higher | $51,013 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.6 min⚠ High | 19.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.7% ✓ Higher | 7.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 131⚠ High ✓ Safer | 207⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 128⚠ High ✓ Safer | 189⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 137⚠ High ✓ Safer | 232⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | A- (113) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.2:1 | 11.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.7% ✓ Higher | 36.3% |
| High School or Higher | 88.6% ✓ Higher | 87.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Mt. Diablo Unified | LAS CRUCES |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.6°F | 58.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.0°F | 95.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 18.9" | 11.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 1.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 125,007 ✓ Larger | 111,273 |
| Median Age | 38.8 ✓ Older | 31.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.1% ✓ Higher | 53.8% |
| Under 18 | 20.5% | 23.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.8% ✓ More | 15.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Concord's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Las Cruces's 93.8 (US average = 100).
Las Cruces is 24% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Concord leads 13 of 23 categories. Concord 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 Concord to Las Cruces or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($706,700 vs $197,200 median home), income ($107,789 vs $51,013), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Concord, CA and Las Cruces, NM are about 942 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.