Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Las Cruces, NM
VS
Midland, TX
🏆 Las Cruces leads 14 of 23 categories
Las Cruces
New Mexico
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$51,013
Violent Crime Index
189⚠ High
Population
111,273
Midland
Texas
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.8
Median Household Income
$90,448 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
96 ✓ Safer
Population
132,490 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Las Cruces, NM
Pros
Rent averages $493/mo less ($907 vs $1,400)
Homes cost $84k less ($197,200 vs $280,700)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.8)
More college-educated — 36.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 11.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Midland by $39,435/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 3.2%)
Midland, TX
Pros
Households earn $39,435 more per year on average
49% less violent crime than Las Cruces
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.3 pts lower (3.2%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.8)
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,400/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Las Cruces
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 93.8 vs 94.8 (100 = US avg)
Las Cruces
Median Home Value
$84k less
$197,200 vs $280,700
Midland
Median Income
$39,435
$90,448 vs $51,013/yr
Midland
Violent Crime
49% lower
364.9 vs 720.0 per 100k
Midland
Unemployment
4.3 pp lower
3.2% vs 7.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Las Cruces, NM | Midland, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.8 ✓ Cheaper | 94.8 |
| Median Home Value | $197,200 ✓ Lower | $280,700 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $907 ✓ Lower | $1,400⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $51,013 | $90,448 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5%⚠ High | 3.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.0 min ✓ Shorter | 19.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.7% ✓ Higher | 5.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 207⚠ High | 88 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 189⚠ High | 96 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 232⚠ High | 77 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (113) ✓ Better | C+ (83) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.3% ✓ Higher | 31.8% |
| High School or Higher | 87.7% ✓ Higher | 84.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LAS CRUCES | MIDLAND ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.9°F | 60.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.6°F ✓ Warmer | 95.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.0" ✓ Drier | 16.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.0" ✓ Less | 1.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 111,273 | 132,490 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.8 ✓ Older | 31.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.8% | 63.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.0% | 28.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.3% ✓ More | 10.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Las Cruces's cost of living index is 93.8 vs Midland's 94.8 (US average = 100).
Las Cruces is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Las Cruces leads 14 of 23 categories. Las Cruces wins 14 and Midland wins 9. 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 Midland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($197,200 vs $280,700 median home), income ($51,013 vs $90,448), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Las Cruces, NM and Midland, TX are about 274 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.