Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Las Cruces, NM
VS
Port St. Lucie, FL
🏆 Port St. Lucie leads 13 of 23 categories
Las Cruces
New Mexico
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$51,013
Violent Crime Index
189⚠ High
Population
111,273
Port St. Lucie
Florida
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.7⚠ High
Median Household Income
$75,040 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
31 ✓ Safer
Population
210,520 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Las Cruces, NM
Pros
Rent averages $777/mo less ($907 vs $1,684)
Homes cost $96k less ($197,200 vs $292,900)
Commutes run 10 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)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Port St. Lucie
Cons
Median income trails Port St. Lucie by $24,027/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 5.7%)
Port St. Lucie, FL
Pros
84% less violent crime than Las Cruces
Households earn $24,027 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (116.7 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (5.7%)
Milder winters — January highs near 73°F vs 59°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 89°F vs 96°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,684/mo
Longer commutes — 29.2 min average each way
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Las Cruces
Key Differences at a Glance
Las Cruces
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 93.8 vs 101.7 (100 = US avg)
Las Cruces
Median Home Value
$96k less
$197,200 vs $292,900
Las Cruces
Summer Heat
7.0°F warmer
July avg high 95.6°F vs 88.6°F
Port St. Lucie
Median Income
$24,027
$75,040 vs $51,013/yr
Port St. Lucie
Violent Crime
84% lower
116.7 vs 720.0 per 100k
Port St. Lucie
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
5.7% vs 7.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Las Cruces, NM | Port St. Lucie, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.8 ✓ Cheaper | 101.7⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $197,200 ✓ Lower | $292,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $907 ✓ Lower | $1,684⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $51,013 | $75,040 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.0 min ✓ Shorter | 29.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.7% | 9.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 207⚠ High | 33 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 189⚠ High | 31 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 232⚠ High | 36 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (113) ✓ Better | B- (92) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.3% ✓ Higher | 26.2% |
| High School or Higher | 87.7% | 90.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LAS CRUCES | ST. LUCIE |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.9°F | 73.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.6°F ✓ Warmer | 88.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.0" ✓ Drier | 60.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 111,273 | 210,520 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.8 | 43.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.8% | 82.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.0% ✓ More | 20.8% |
| Over 65 | 15.3% | 21.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Las Cruces's cost of living index is 93.8 vs Port St. Lucie's 101.7 (US average = 100).
Las Cruces is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Port St. Lucie leads 13 of 23 categories. Las Cruces wins 10 and Port St. Lucie 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 Port St. Lucie or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($197,200 vs $292,900 median home), income ($51,013 vs $75,040), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Las Cruces, NM and Port St. Lucie, FL are about 1,616 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.