Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Concord, NC
VS
Las Cruces, NM
🏆 Las Cruces leads 12 of 23 categories
Concord
North Carolina
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.0
Median Household Income
$83,480 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
42 ✓ Safer
Population
105,335
Las Cruces
New Mexico
12
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.
Concord, NC
Pros
78% less violent crime than Las Cruces
Households earn $32,467 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.8 pts lower (4.7%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (159.0 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 40.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Las Cruces
Las Cruces, NM
Pros
Homes cost $91k less ($197,200 vs $288,100)
Rent averages $352/mo less ($907 vs $1,259)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.8)
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 53°F
Smaller class sizes — 11.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Concord by $32,467/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 4.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Concord
Median Income
$32,467
$83,480 vs $51,013/yr
Concord
Violent Crime
78% lower
159.0 vs 720.0 per 100k
Concord
Unemployment
2.8 pp lower
4.7% vs 7.5% unemployment
Las Cruces
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 93.8 vs 97.0 (100 = US avg)
Las Cruces
Median Home Value
$91k less
$197,200 vs $288,100
Las Cruces
Summer Heat
3.8°F warmer
July avg high 95.6°F vs 91.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Concord, NC | Las Cruces, NM |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.0 | 93.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $288,100 | $197,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,259 | $907 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $83,480 ✓ Higher | $51,013 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.3 min | 19.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 14.2% ✓ Higher | 7.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 46 ✓ Safer | 207⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 42 ✓ Safer | 189⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 53 ✓ Safer | 232⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (106) | A- (113) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.4:1 | 11.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.8% ✓ Higher | 36.3% |
| High School or Higher | 91.2% ✓ Higher | 87.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cabarrus County Schools | LAS CRUCES |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 52.8°F | 58.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 91.8°F | 95.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.0" | 11.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.3" | 1.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 105,335 | 111,273 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.3 ✓ Older | 31.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 69.4% ✓ Higher | 53.8% |
| Under 18 | 25.4% ✓ More | 23.0% |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 15.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Concord's cost of living index is 97.0 vs Las Cruces's 93.8 (US average = 100).
Las Cruces is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Las Cruces leads 12 of 23 categories. Concord wins 11 and Las Cruces wins 12. 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 ($288,100 vs $197,200 median home), income ($83,480 vs $51,013), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Concord, NC and Las Cruces, NM are about 1,511 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.