Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Las Cruces, NM
VS
Omaha, NE
🏆 Omaha leads 13 of 23 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
Omaha
Nebraska
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$70,202 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
97 ✓ Safer
Population
489,201 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Las Cruces, NM
Pros
Rent averages $192/mo less ($907 vs $1,099)
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 32°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.8)
Smaller class sizes — 11.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Omaha by $19,189/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 4.2%)
Omaha, NE
Pros
49% less violent crime than Las Cruces
Households earn $19,189 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.3 pts lower (4.2%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.5)
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 96°F
Cons
Property crime (3161.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Las Cruces
Median Home Value
$13k less
$197,200 vs $210,300
Las Cruces
Summer Heat
10.4°F warmer
July avg high 95.6°F vs 85.2°F
Omaha
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 92.5 vs 93.8 (100 = US avg)
Omaha
Median Income
$19,189
$70,202 vs $51,013/yr
Omaha
Violent Crime
49% lower
369.0 vs 720.0 per 100k
Omaha
Unemployment
3.3 pp lower
4.2% vs 7.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Las Cruces, NM | Omaha, NE |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.8 | 92.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $197,200 ✓ Lower | $210,300 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $907 ✓ Lower | $1,099 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $51,013 | $70,202 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.0 min ✓ Shorter | 19.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.7% | 11.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 207⚠ High | 118⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 189⚠ High | 97 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 232⚠ High | 151⚠ High ✓ 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 | 16.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.3% | 39.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.7% | 90.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LAS CRUCES | OMAHA PUBLIC SCHOOLS |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.9°F ✓ Warmer | 32.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.6°F ✓ Warmer | 85.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.0" ✓ Drier | 33.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.0" ✓ Less | 27.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 111,273 | 489,201 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.8 | 35.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.8% | 57.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.0% | 24.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.3% ✓ More | 13.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Las Cruces's cost of living index is 93.8 vs Omaha's 92.5 (US average = 100).
Omaha is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Omaha leads 13 of 23 categories. Las Cruces wins 10 and Omaha wins 13. 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 Omaha or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($197,200 vs $210,300 median home), income ($51,013 vs $70,202), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Las Cruces, NM and Omaha, NE are about 855 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.