Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Las Cruces, NM
VS
Montgomery, AL
🏆 Montgomery leads 12 of 22 categories
Las Cruces
New Mexico
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.8
Median Household Income
$51,013
Violent Crime Index
189⚠ High
Population
111,273
Montgomery
Alabama
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,166 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
156⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
199,819 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Las Cruces, NM
Pros
Rent averages $119/mo less ($907 vs $1,026)
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
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 Montgomery by $3,153/yr
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Montgomery
Montgomery, AL
Pros
Homes cost $55k less ($141,900 vs $197,200)
17% less violent crime than Las Cruces
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
Households earn $3,153 more per year on average
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Las Cruces
Cons
Violent crime (594.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Montgomery
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 93.8 (100 = US avg)
Montgomery
Median Income
$3,153
$54,166 vs $51,013/yr
Montgomery
Violent Crime
17% lower
594.6 vs 720.0 per 100k
Montgomery
Median Home Value
$55k less
$141,900 vs $197,200
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Las Cruces, NM | Montgomery, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.8 | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $197,200 | $141,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $907 ✓ Lower | $1,026 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $51,013 | $54,166 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5%⚠ High | 7.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.0 min ✓ Shorter | 19.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.7% ✓ Higher | 6.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 207⚠ High | 136⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 189⚠ High | 156⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 232⚠ High | 106⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (113) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.3% ✓ Higher | 33.1% |
| High School or Higher | 87.7% ✓ Higher | 87.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LAS CRUCES | Montgomery County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.9°F | 60.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.6°F ✓ Warmer | 94.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.0" ✓ Drier | 54.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.0" | 0.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 111,273 | 199,819 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.8 | 36.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.8% ✓ Higher | 53.5% |
| Under 18 | 23.0% | 23.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.3% | 15.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Las Cruces's cost of living index is 93.8 vs Montgomery's 90.8 (US average = 100).
Montgomery is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Montgomery leads 12 of 22 categories. Las Cruces wins 10 and Montgomery 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 Montgomery or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($197,200 vs $141,900 median home), income ($51,013 vs $54,166), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Las Cruces, NM and Montgomery, AL are about 1,196 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.