Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lakewood, CO
VS
Las Cruces, NM
🏆 Las Cruces leads 14 of 23 categories
Lakewood
Colorado
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$82,786 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
207⚠ High
Population
156,149 ✓ Larger
Las Cruces
New Mexico
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$51,013
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.
Lakewood, CO
Pros
Households earn $31,773 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.1 pts lower (4.4%)
More college-educated — 44.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 96°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $494,100
Higher rents — median is $1,665/mo
Violent crime (787.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (5093.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Las Cruces, NM
Pros
Homes cost $297k less ($197,200 vs $494,100)
Rent averages $758/mo less ($907 vs $1,665)
9% less violent crime than Lakewood
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Lakewood
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 45°F
Cons
Median income trails Lakewood by $31,773/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 4.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Lakewood
Median Income
$31,773
$82,786 vs $51,013/yr
Lakewood
Unemployment
3.1 pp lower
4.4% vs 7.5% unemployment
Las Cruces
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 93.8 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Las Cruces
Violent Crime
9% lower
720.0 vs 787.2 per 100k
Las Cruces
Median Home Value
$297k less
$197,200 vs $494,100
Las Cruces
Summer Heat
9.7°F warmer
July avg high 95.6°F vs 85.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lakewood, 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 | $494,100⚠ High | $197,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,665⚠ High | $907 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $82,786 ✓ Higher | $51,013 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.0 min | 19.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.9% ✓ Higher | 7.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 221⚠ High | 207⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 207⚠ High | 189⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 243⚠ High | 232⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) | A- (113) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.7:1 | 11.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.4% ✓ Higher | 36.3% |
| High School or Higher | 93.1% ✓ Higher | 87.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jefferson County School District No. R-1 | LAS CRUCES |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.8°F | 58.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.9°F | 95.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.8" | 11.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 58.0" | 1.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 156,149 ✓ Larger | 111,273 |
| Median Age | 38.1 ✓ Older | 31.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.0% ✓ Higher | 53.8% |
| Under 18 | 16.8% | 23.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.4% ✓ More | 15.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lakewood'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, Las Cruces leads 14 of 23 categories. Lakewood wins 9 and Las Cruces wins 14. 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 Lakewood to Las Cruces or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($494,100 vs $197,200 median home), income ($82,786 vs $51,013), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lakewood, CO and Las Cruces, NM are about 518 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.