Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Kenosha, WI
VS
Las Cruces, NM
🏆 Las Cruces leads 13 of 23 categories
Kenosha
Wisconsin
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,963 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
75 ✓ Safer
Population
99,493
Las Cruces
New Mexico
13
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.
Kenosha, WI
Pros
60% less violent crime than Las Cruces
Households earn $13,950 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (5.4%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 96°F
Cons
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Las Cruces
Las Cruces, NM
Pros
Rent averages $172/mo less ($907 vs $1,079)
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 31°F
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 36.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Kenosha
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 Kenosha by $13,950/yr
Property crime (4873.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.5% vs 5.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Kenosha
Median Income
$13,950
$64,963 vs $51,013/yr
Kenosha
Violent Crime
60% lower
285.7 vs 720.0 per 100k
Kenosha
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
5.4% vs 7.5% unemployment
Las Cruces
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 93.8 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Las Cruces
Summer Heat
11.8°F warmer
July avg high 95.6°F vs 83.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Kenosha, WI | Las Cruces, NM |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High | 93.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $194,400 ✓ Lower | $197,200 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,079 | $907 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,963 ✓ Higher | $51,013 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.1 min | 19.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.4% | 7.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 62 ✓ Safer | 207⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 ✓ Safer | 189⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 41 ✓ Safer | 232⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) | A- (113) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.7:1 | 11.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.5% | 36.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.3% ✓ Higher | 87.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Kenosha School District | LAS CRUCES |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.3°F | 58.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.8°F | 95.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.2" | 11.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 36.2" | 1.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,493 | 111,273 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.3 ✓ Older | 31.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.7% ✓ Higher | 53.8% |
| Under 18 | 23.7% ✓ More | 23.0% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 15.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Kenosha's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Las Cruces's 93.8 (US average = 100).
Las Cruces is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Las Cruces leads 13 of 23 categories. Kenosha wins 10 and Las Cruces wins 13. 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 Kenosha to Las Cruces or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($194,400 vs $197,200 median home), income ($64,963 vs $51,013), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Kenosha, WI and Las Cruces, NM are about 1,252 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.