Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Knoxville, TN
VS
Las Cruces, NM
🏆 Las Cruces leads 13 of 22 categories
Knoxville
Tennessee
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$48,309
Violent Crime Index
195⚠ High
Population
191,857 ✓ Larger
Las Cruces
New Mexico
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.8
Median Household Income
$51,013 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
189⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
111,273
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Knoxville, TN
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.7 pts lower (4.8%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.8)
Cooler summers — July highs near 88°F vs 96°F
Cons
Violent crime (740.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2721.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Las Cruces by $2,704/yr
Las Cruces, NM
Pros
Rent averages $136/mo less ($907 vs $1,043)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.8)
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 48°F
More college-educated — 36.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $2,704 more per year on average
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 4.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Knoxville
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 92.8 vs 93.8 (100 = US avg)
Knoxville
Median Home Value
$13k less
$184,200 vs $197,200
Knoxville
Unemployment
2.7 pp lower
4.8% vs 7.5% unemployment
Las Cruces
Median Income
$2,704
$51,013 vs $48,309/yr
Las Cruces
Violent Crime
3% lower
720.0 vs 740.3 per 100k
Las Cruces
Summer Heat
7.3°F warmer
July avg high 95.6°F vs 88.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Knoxville, TN | Las Cruces, NM |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.8 ✓ Cheaper | 93.8 |
| Median Home Value | $184,200 ✓ Lower | $197,200 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,043 | $907 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $48,309 | $51,013 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.5 min | 19.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.1% ✓ Higher | 7.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 169⚠ High ✓ Safer | 207⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 195⚠ High | 189⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 130⚠ High ✓ Safer | 232⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) | A- (113) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 11.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.1% | 36.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.2% ✓ Higher | 87.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Knox County | LAS CRUCES |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.9°F | 58.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.3°F | 95.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.8" | 11.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 4.6" | 1.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 191,857 ✓ Larger | 111,273 |
| Median Age | 33.4 ✓ Older | 31.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 46.2% | 53.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.2% | 23.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.2% | 15.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Knoxville's cost of living index is 92.8 vs Las Cruces's 93.8 (US average = 100).
Knoxville is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Las Cruces leads 13 of 22 categories. Knoxville wins 9 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 Knoxville to Las Cruces or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($184,200 vs $197,200 median home), income ($48,309 vs $51,013), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Knoxville, TN and Las Cruces, NM are about 1,327 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.