Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Las Cruces, NM
VS
Las Vegas, NV
🏆 Las Vegas leads 12 of 22 categories
Las Cruces
New Mexico
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$51,013
Violent Crime Index
189⚠ High
Population
111,273
Las Vegas
Nevada
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$66,356 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
113⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
644,835 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Las Cruces, NM
Pros
Homes cost $168k less ($197,200 vs $365,300)
Rent averages $449/mo less ($907 vs $1,356)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 36.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.8)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Las Vegas
Cons
Violent crime (720.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Las Vegas by $15,343/yr
Property crime (4873.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Las Vegas, NV
Pros
40% less violent crime than Las Cruces
Households earn $15,343 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $365,300
Higher rents — median is $1,356/mo
Property crime (2622.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Las Cruces
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 93.8 vs 101.6 (100 = US avg)
Las Cruces
Median Home Value
$168k less
$197,200 vs $365,300
Las Vegas
Median Income
$15,343
$66,356 vs $51,013/yr
Las Vegas
Violent Crime
40% lower
429.8 vs 720.0 per 100k
Las Vegas
Summer Heat
8.2°F warmer
July avg high 103.8°F vs 95.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Las Cruces, NM | Las Vegas, NV |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.8 ✓ Cheaper | 101.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $197,200 ✓ Lower | $365,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $907 ✓ Lower | $1,356⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $51,013 | $66,356 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5%⚠ High | 7.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.0 min ✓ Shorter | 25.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.7% | 9.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 207⚠ High | 118⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 189⚠ High | 113⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 232⚠ High | 125⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (113) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.3% ✓ Higher | 26.3% |
| High School or Higher | 87.7% ✓ Higher | 85.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LAS CRUCES | Clark County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.9°F ✓ Warmer | 58.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.6°F | 103.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.0" | 6.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 111,273 | 644,835 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.8 | 38.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.8% | 54.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.0% ✓ More | 22.9% |
| Over 65 | 15.3% | 15.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Las Cruces's cost of living index is 93.8 vs Las Vegas's 101.6 (US average = 100).
Las Cruces is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Las Vegas leads 12 of 22 categories. Las Cruces wins 10 and Las Vegas wins 12. 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 Las Cruces to Las Vegas or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($197,200 vs $365,300 median home), income ($51,013 vs $66,356), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Las Cruces, NM and Las Vegas, NV are about 554 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.