Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Las Cruces, NM
VS
Odessa, TX
🏆 Odessa leads 11 of 21 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
Odessa
Texas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,293 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
83 ✓ Safer
Population
113,353 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Las Cruces, NM
Pros
Rent averages $375/mo less ($907 vs $1,282)
More college-educated — 36.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.8)
Cons
Median income trails Odessa by $20,280/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 6.1%)
Odessa, TX
Pros
56% less violent crime than Las Cruces
Households earn $20,280 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (6.1%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.1)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Odessa
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 92.1 vs 93.8 (100 = US avg)
Odessa
Median Income
$20,280
$71,293 vs $51,013/yr
Odessa
Violent Crime
56% lower
316.3 vs 720.0 per 100k
Odessa
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
6.1% vs 7.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Las Cruces, NM | Odessa, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.8 | 92.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $197,200 | $193,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $907 ✓ Lower | $1,282 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $51,013 | $71,293 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5%⚠ High | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.0 min ✓ Shorter | 23.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.7% ✓ Higher | 3.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 207⚠ High | 85 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 189⚠ High | 83 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 232⚠ High | 88 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (113) | — |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.2:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.3% ✓ Higher | 18.4% |
| High School or Higher | 87.7% ✓ Higher | 81.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LAS CRUCES | UTPB STEM ACADEMY |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.9°F ✓ Warmer | 56.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.6°F ✓ Warmer | 94.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.0" ✓ Drier | 12.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.0" | 0.9" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 111,273 | 113,353 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.8 ✓ Older | 30.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.8% | 59.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.0% | 29.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.3% ✓ More | 9.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Las Cruces's cost of living index is 93.8 vs Odessa's 92.1 (US average = 100).
Odessa is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Odessa leads 11 of 21 categories. Las Cruces wins 10 and Odessa 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 Odessa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($197,200 vs $193,500 median home), income ($51,013 vs $71,293), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Las Cruces, NM and Odessa, TX are about 262 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.