Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fullerton, CA
VS
Las Cruces, NM
🏆 Fullerton leads 12 of 23 categories
Fullerton
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$99,279 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
120⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
142,280 ✓ Larger
Las Cruces
New Mexico
11
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.
Fullerton, CA
Pros
Households earn $48,266 more per year on average
37% less violent crime than Las Cruces
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (6.9%)
More college-educated — 44.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 96°F
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 59°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $791,000
Higher rents — median is $1,989/mo
Violent crime (455.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 22% higher than Las Cruces
Las Cruces, NM
Pros
Homes cost $594k less ($197,200 vs $791,000)
Rent averages $1082/mo less ($907 vs $1,989)
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Fullerton
Commutes run 11 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 Fullerton by $48,266/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
Key Differences at a Glance
Fullerton
Median Income
$48,266
$99,279 vs $51,013/yr
Fullerton
Violent Crime
37% lower
455.3 vs 720.0 per 100k
Fullerton
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
6.9% 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
$594k less
$197,200 vs $791,000
Las Cruces
Summer Heat
11.2°F warmer
July avg high 95.6°F vs 84.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fullerton, 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 | $791,000⚠ High | $197,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,989⚠ High | $907 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $99,279 ✓ Higher | $51,013 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.0 min⚠ High | 19.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% ✓ Higher | 7.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 110⚠ High ✓ Safer | 207⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 120⚠ High ✓ Safer | 189⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 ✓ Safer | 232⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | A- (113) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 25.3:1 | 11.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.0% ✓ Higher | 36.3% |
| High School or Higher | 89.7% ✓ Higher | 87.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fullerton Elementary | LAS CRUCES |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.8°F ✓ Warmer | 58.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 84.4°F | 95.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.9" | 11.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 1.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 142,280 ✓ Larger | 111,273 |
| Median Age | 35.5 ✓ Older | 31.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.6% | 53.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.4% | 23.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.8% | 15.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fullerton'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, Fullerton leads 12 of 23 categories. Fullerton wins 12 and Las Cruces wins 11. 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 Fullerton to Las Cruces or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($791,000 vs $197,200 median home), income ($99,279 vs $51,013), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fullerton, CA and Las Cruces, NM are about 653 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.