Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Erie, PA
VS
Las Cruces, NM
🏆 Las Cruces leads 12 of 23 categories
Erie
Pennsylvania
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$43,135
Violent Crime Index
99 ✓ Safer
Population
94,826
Las Cruces
New Mexico
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.8
Median Household Income
$51,013 ✓ Higher
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.
Erie, PA
Pros
Homes cost $96k less ($101,500 vs $197,200)
48% less violent crime than Las Cruces
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (6.8%)
Rent averages $98/mo less ($809 vs $907)
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 96°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.5)
Cons
Median income trails Las Cruces by $7,878/yr
Snowy winters — about 104" of snow per year
Las Cruces, NM
Pros
Households earn $7,878 more per year on average
More college-educated — 36.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 35°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.8)
Smaller class sizes — 11.2:1 student-teacher ratio
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
Higher unemployment (7.5% vs 6.8%)
Cost of living runs 2% higher than Erie
Key Differences at a Glance
Erie
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 91.5 vs 93.8 (100 = US avg)
Erie
Violent Crime
48% lower
375.6 vs 720.0 per 100k
Erie
Median Home Value
$96k less
$101,500 vs $197,200
Erie
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
6.8% vs 7.5% unemployment
Las Cruces
Median Income
$7,878
$51,013 vs $43,135/yr
Las Cruces
Summer Heat
14.5°F warmer
July avg high 95.6°F vs 81.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Erie, PA | Las Cruces, NM |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.5 ✓ Cheaper | 93.8 |
| Median Home Value | $101,500 ✓ Lower | $197,200 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $809 ✓ Lower | $907 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $43,135 | $51,013 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.2 min ✓ Shorter | 19.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 5.8% | 7.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 96 ✓ Safer | 207⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 99 ✓ Safer | 189⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 232⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (90) | A- (113) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.9:1 | 11.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.4% | 36.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.6% ✓ Higher | 87.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Erie City SD | LAS CRUCES |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 35.2°F | 58.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.1°F | 95.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.0" | 11.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 104.3" | 1.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,826 | 111,273 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.0 ✓ Older | 31.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.6% | 53.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.4% | 23.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.5% ✓ More | 15.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Erie's cost of living index is 91.5 vs Las Cruces's 93.8 (US average = 100).
Erie is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Las Cruces leads 12 of 23 categories. Erie 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 Erie to Las Cruces or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($101,500 vs $197,200 median home), income ($43,135 vs $51,013), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Erie, PA and Las Cruces, NM are about 1,609 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.