Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Dayton, OH
VS
Las Cruces, NM
🏆 Las Cruces leads 16 of 22 categories
Dayton
Ohio
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$41,443
Violent Crime Index
352⚠ High
Population
137,305 ✓ Larger
Las Cruces
New Mexico
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.8
Median Household Income
$51,013 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
189⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
111,273
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Dayton, OH
Pros
Homes cost $111k less ($86,200 vs $197,200)
Rent averages $77/mo less ($830 vs $907)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.3)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 96°F
Cons
Violent crime (1339.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Las Cruces by $9,570/yr
Property crime (4334.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (10.0% vs 7.5%)
Las Cruces, NM
Pros
46% less violent crime than Dayton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (7.5%)
Households earn $9,570 more per year on average
More college-educated — 36.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 36°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.8)
Cons
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
Dayton
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 92.3 vs 93.8 (100 = US avg)
Dayton
Median Home Value
$111k less
$86,200 vs $197,200
Las Cruces
Median Income
$9,570
$51,013 vs $41,443/yr
Las Cruces
Violent Crime
46% lower
720.0 vs 1339.2 per 100k
Las Cruces
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
7.5% vs 10.0% unemployment
Las Cruces
Summer Heat
8.9°F warmer
July avg high 95.6°F vs 86.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Dayton, OH | Las Cruces, NM |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.3 ✓ Cheaper | 93.8 |
| Median Home Value | $86,200 ✓ Lower | $197,200 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $830 ✓ Lower | $907 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $41,443 | $51,013 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.0%⚠ High | 7.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.1 min | 19.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.7% | 7.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 294⚠ High | 207⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 352⚠ High | 189⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 206⚠ 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 | 17.1:1 | 11.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.6% | 36.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.4% | 87.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Dayton City | LAS CRUCES |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.3°F | 58.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.7°F | 95.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.6" | 11.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 12.3" | 1.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 137,305 ✓ Larger | 111,273 |
| Median Age | 34.0 ✓ Older | 31.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.4% | 53.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.9% | 23.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.4% | 15.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Dayton's cost of living index is 92.3 vs Las Cruces's 93.8 (US average = 100).
Dayton is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Las Cruces leads 16 of 22 categories. Dayton wins 6 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 Dayton to Las Cruces or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($86,200 vs $197,200 median home), income ($41,443 vs $51,013), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Dayton, OH and Las Cruces, NM are about 1,358 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.