Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fremont, CA
VS
Las Cruces, NM
🏆 Fremont leads 12 of 22 categories
Fremont
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$169,023 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
52 ✓ Safer
Population
228,795 ✓ 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.
Fremont, CA
Pros
Households earn $118,010 more per year on average
73% less violent crime than Las Cruces
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.5 pts lower (4.0%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (195.7 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 61.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 96°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,231,500
Higher rents — median is $2,824/mo
Cost of living runs 24% higher than Las Cruces
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Las Cruces, NM
Pros
Homes cost $1034k less ($197,200 vs $1,231,500)
Rent averages $1917/mo less ($907 vs $2,824)
24% cheaper overall cost of living than Fremont
Commutes run 14 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 Fremont by $118,010/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 4.0%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Fremont
Median Income
$118,010
$169,023 vs $51,013/yr
Fremont
Violent Crime
73% lower
195.7 vs 720.0 per 100k
Fremont
Unemployment
3.5 pp lower
4.0% 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
$1034k less
$197,200 vs $1,231,500
Las Cruces
Summer Heat
18.6°F warmer
July avg high 95.6°F vs 77.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fremont, 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 | $1,231,500⚠ High | $197,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,824⚠ High | $907 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $169,023 ✓ Higher | $51,013 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.1 min⚠ High | 19.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 28.1% ✓ Higher | 7.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 75 ✓ Safer | 207⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 52 ✓ Safer | 189⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer | 232⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) | A- (113) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.0:1 | 11.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 61.9% ✓ Higher | 36.3% |
| High School or Higher | 93.1% ✓ Higher | 87.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fremont Unified | LAS CRUCES |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.1°F | 58.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 77.0°F | 95.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.4" | 11.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 1.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 228,795 ✓ Larger | 111,273 |
| Median Age | 38.6 ✓ Older | 31.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.7% ✓ Higher | 53.8% |
| Under 18 | 23.0% | 23.0% |
| Over 65 | 13.0% | 15.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fremont'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 22 decided categories above, Fremont leads 12 of 22 categories. Fremont wins 12 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 Fremont to Las Cruces or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,231,500 vs $197,200 median home), income ($169,023 vs $51,013), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fremont, CA and Las Cruces, NM are about 928 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.