Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Las Cruces, NM
VS
Peoria, IL
🏆 Peoria 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 ✓ Safer
Population
111,273
Peoria
Illinois
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
88.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,068 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
354⚠ High
Population
113,054 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Las Cruces, NM
Pros
46% less violent crime than Peoria
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 34°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (7.5%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.8)
Smaller class sizes — 11.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (720.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Peoria by $7,055/yr
Property crime (4873.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Peoria
Peoria, IL
Pros
Homes cost $51k less ($146,700 vs $197,200)
Households earn $7,055 more per year on average
Living costs sit below the national average (index 88.6)
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 96°F
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Las Cruces
Cons
Violent crime (1344.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4284.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Las Cruces
Violent Crime
46% lower
720.0 vs 1344.9 per 100k
Las Cruces
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
7.5% vs 8.0% unemployment
Las Cruces
Summer Heat
9.3°F warmer
July avg high 95.6°F vs 86.3°F
Peoria
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 88.6 vs 93.8 (100 = US avg)
Peoria
Median Income
$7,055
$58,068 vs $51,013/yr
Peoria
Median Home Value
$51k less
$146,700 vs $197,200
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Las Cruces, NM | Peoria, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.8 | 88.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $197,200 | $146,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $907 ✓ Lower | $917 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $51,013 | $58,068 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.0 min | 17.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.7% | 9.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 207⚠ High ✓ Safer | 294⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 189⚠ High ✓ Safer | 354⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 232⚠ High | 204⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (113) ✓ Better | B+ (107) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.3% | 37.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.7% | 91.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LAS CRUCES | Peoria SD 150 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.9°F ✓ Warmer | 33.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.6°F ✓ Warmer | 86.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.0" ✓ Drier | 39.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.0" ✓ Less | 26.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 111,273 | 113,054 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.8 | 35.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.8% | 56.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.0% | 23.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.3% | 16.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Las Cruces's cost of living index is 93.8 vs Peoria's 88.6 (US average = 100).
Peoria is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Peoria leads 13 of 23 categories. Las Cruces wins 10 and Peoria 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 Peoria or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($197,200 vs $146,700 median home), income ($51,013 vs $58,068), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Las Cruces, NM and Peoria, IL are about 1,114 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.