Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Highlands Ranch, CO
VS
Las Cruces, NM
🏆 Highlands Ranch leads 12 of 23 categories
Highlands Ranch
Colorado
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$148,227 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
36 ✓ Safer
Population
101,514
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 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Highlands Ranch, CO
Pros
Households earn $97,214 more per year on average
81% less violent crime than Las Cruces
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.1 pts lower (3.4%)
More college-educated — 65.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (138.1 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 96°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $637,400
Higher rents — median is $2,353/mo
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Las Cruces
Snowy winters — about 64" of snow per year
Las Cruces, NM
Pros
Homes cost $440k less ($197,200 vs $637,400)
Rent averages $1446/mo less ($907 vs $2,353)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Highlands Ranch
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 45°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.8)
Cons
Median income trails Highlands Ranch by $97,214/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 3.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Highlands Ranch
Median Income
$97,214
$148,227 vs $51,013/yr
Highlands Ranch
Violent Crime
81% lower
138.1 vs 720.0 per 100k
Highlands Ranch
Unemployment
4.1 pp lower
3.4% vs 7.5% unemployment
Las Cruces
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 93.8 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Las Cruces
Median Home Value
$440k less
$197,200 vs $637,400
Las Cruces
Summer Heat
8.3°F warmer
July avg high 95.6°F vs 87.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Highlands Ranch, CO | Las Cruces, NM |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 93.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $637,400⚠ High | $197,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,353⚠ High | $907 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $148,227 ✓ Higher | $51,013 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% ✓ Lower | 7.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.1 min | 19.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 26.2% ✓ Higher | 7.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 48 ✓ Safer | 207⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 36 ✓ Safer | 189⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 ✓ Safer | 232⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (114) ✓ Better | A- (113) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.4:1 | 11.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 65.7% ✓ Higher | 36.3% |
| High School or Higher | 98.8% ✓ Higher | 87.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Douglas County School District No. Re 1 | LAS CRUCES |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.6°F | 58.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F | 95.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 18.2" | 11.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 64.0" | 1.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 101,514 | 111,273 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.0 ✓ Older | 31.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 79.4% ✓ Higher | 53.8% |
| Under 18 | 24.9% ✓ More | 23.0% |
| Over 65 | 13.4% | 15.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Highlands Ranch's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Las Cruces's 93.8 (US average = 100).
Las Cruces is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Highlands Ranch leads 12 of 23 categories. Highlands Ranch 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 Highlands Ranch to Las Cruces or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($637,400 vs $197,200 median home), income ($148,227 vs $51,013), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Highlands Ranch, CO and Las Cruces, NM are about 509 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.