Head-to-Head · City Comparison
El Monte, CA
VS
Las Cruces, NM
🏆 Las Cruces leads 15 of 23 categories
El Monte
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$59,929 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
108,682
Las Cruces
New Mexico
15
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.
El Monte, CA
Pros
41% less violent crime than Las Cruces
Households earn $8,916 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (7.0%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 96°F
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 59°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $597,200
Higher rents — median is $1,605/mo
Cost of living runs 22% higher than Las Cruces
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Las Cruces, NM
Pros
Homes cost $400k less ($197,200 vs $597,200)
Rent averages $698/mo less ($907 vs $1,605)
22% cheaper overall cost of living than El Monte
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 36.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.8)
Cons
Violent crime (720.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails El Monte by $8,916/yr
Property crime (4873.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
El Monte
Median Income
$8,916
$59,929 vs $51,013/yr
El Monte
Violent Crime
41% lower
423.2 vs 720.0 per 100k
El Monte
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
7.0% vs 7.5% unemployment
Las Cruces
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 93.8 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Las Cruces
Median Home Value
$400k less
$197,200 vs $597,200
Las Cruces
Summer Heat
10.1°F warmer
July avg high 95.6°F vs 85.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | El Monte, 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 | $597,200⚠ High | $197,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,605⚠ High | $907 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,929 ✓ Higher | $51,013 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.3 min⚠ High | 19.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% | 7.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 106⚠ High ✓ Safer | 207⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer | 189⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 98 ✓ Safer | 232⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (66) | A- (113) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 | 11.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 13.7% | 36.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 63.9% | 87.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Mountain View Elementary | LAS CRUCES |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.6°F ✓ Warmer | 58.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 85.5°F | 95.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.7" | 11.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 1.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 108,682 | 111,273 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 31.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.6% | 53.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.4% | 23.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.6% | 15.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
El Monte'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 15 of 23 categories. El Monte wins 8 and Las Cruces wins 15. 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 El Monte to Las Cruces or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($597,200 vs $197,200 median home), income ($59,929 vs $51,013), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
El Monte, CA and Las Cruces, NM are about 661 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.