Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Las Cruces, NM
VS
Miami Gardens, FL
🏆 Las Cruces leads 13 of 23 categories
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
Miami Gardens
Florida
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$56,071 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
109⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
111,618 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Las Cruces, NM
Pros
Rent averages $676/mo less ($907 vs $1,583)
Homes cost $103k less ($197,200 vs $299,700)
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Miami Gardens
More college-educated — 36.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.8)
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
Median income trails Miami Gardens by $5,058/yr
Miami Gardens, FL
Pros
42% less violent crime than Las Cruces
Milder winters — January highs near 75°F vs 59°F
Households earn $5,058 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 90°F vs 96°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,583/mo
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Las Cruces
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Longer commutes — 32.3 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Las Cruces
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 93.8 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Las Cruces
Median Home Value
$103k less
$197,200 vs $299,700
Las Cruces
Summer Heat
6.0°F warmer
July avg high 95.6°F vs 89.6°F
Miami Gardens
Median Income
$5,058
$56,071 vs $51,013/yr
Miami Gardens
Violent Crime
42% lower
414.6 vs 720.0 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Las Cruces, NM | Miami Gardens, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.8 ✓ Cheaper | 111.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $197,200 ✓ Lower | $299,700 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $907 ✓ Lower | $1,583⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $51,013 | $56,071 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.0 min ✓ Shorter | 32.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.7% ✓ Higher | 7.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 207⚠ High | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 189⚠ High | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 232⚠ High | 116⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (113) ✓ Better | C+ (84) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.3% ✓ Higher | 17.7% |
| High School or Higher | 87.7% ✓ Higher | 82.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LAS CRUCES | MIAMI-DADE |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.9°F | 75.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.6°F ✓ Warmer | 89.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.0" ✓ Drier | 68.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 111,273 | 111,618 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.8 | 38.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.8% | 64.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.0% ✓ More | 22.7% |
| Over 65 | 15.3% | 16.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Las Cruces's cost of living index is 93.8 vs Miami Gardens's 111.8 (US average = 100).
Las Cruces is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Las Cruces leads 13 of 23 categories. Las Cruces wins 13 and Miami Gardens wins 10. 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 Miami Gardens or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($197,200 vs $299,700 median home), income ($51,013 vs $56,071), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Las Cruces, NM and Miami Gardens, FL are about 1,657 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.