Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Las Cruces, NM
VS
Mobile, AL
🏆 Las Cruces leads 12 of 23 categories
Las Cruces
New Mexico
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.8
Median Household Income
$51,013 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
189⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
111,273
Mobile
Alabama
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$48,524
Violent Crime Index
198⚠ High
Population
186,316 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Las Cruces, NM
Pros
4% less violent crime than Mobile
Commutes run 4 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)
Rent averages $78/mo less ($907 vs $985)
Smaller class sizes — 11.2:1 student-teacher ratio
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 6.5%)
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Mobile
Mobile, AL
Pros
Homes cost $39k less ($158,400 vs $197,200)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (6.5%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.4)
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Las Cruces
Cons
Violent crime (752.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Las Cruces
Median Income
$2,489
$51,013 vs $48,524/yr
Las Cruces
Violent Crime
4% lower
720.0 vs 752.0 per 100k
Las Cruces
Summer Heat
3.9°F warmer
July avg high 95.6°F vs 91.7°F
Mobile
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 89.4 vs 93.8 (100 = US avg)
Mobile
Median Home Value
$39k less
$158,400 vs $197,200
Mobile
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
6.5% vs 7.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Las Cruces, NM | Mobile, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.8 | 89.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $197,200 | $158,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $907 ✓ Lower | $985 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $51,013 ✓ Higher | $48,524 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5%⚠ High | 6.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.0 min ✓ Shorter | 22.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.7% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 207⚠ High | 151⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 189⚠ High ✓ Safer | 198⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 232⚠ High | 80 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (113) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.3% ✓ Higher | 30.2% |
| High School or Higher | 87.7% | 89.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LAS CRUCES | Mobile County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.9°F | 62.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.6°F ✓ Warmer | 91.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.0" ✓ Drier | 68.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.0" | 0.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 111,273 | 186,316 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.8 | 37.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.8% ✓ Higher | 50.6% |
| Under 18 | 23.0% ✓ More | 21.5% |
| Over 65 | 15.3% | 16.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Las Cruces's cost of living index is 93.8 vs Mobile's 89.4 (US average = 100).
Mobile is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Las Cruces leads 12 of 23 categories. Las Cruces wins 12 and Mobile wins 11. 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 Mobile or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($197,200 vs $158,400 median home), income ($51,013 vs $48,524), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Las Cruces, NM and Mobile, AL are about 1,106 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.