Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Las Cruces, NM
VS
Portland, OR
🏆 Las Cruces leads 16 of 23 categories
Las Cruces
New Mexico
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$51,013
Violent Crime Index
189⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
111,273
Portland
Oregon
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$85,876 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
190⚠ High
Population
646,101 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Las Cruces, NM
Pros
Homes cost $326k less ($197,200 vs $523,100)
Rent averages $623/mo less ($907 vs $1,530)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Portland
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.8)
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 47°F
Cons
Median income trails Portland by $34,863/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 5.6%)
Portland, OR
Pros
Households earn $34,863 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (5.6%)
More college-educated — 52.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 96°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $523,100
Higher rents — median is $1,530/mo
Violent crime (720.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Las Cruces
Key Differences at a Glance
Las Cruces
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 93.8 vs 106.6 (100 = US avg)
Las Cruces
Median Home Value
$326k less
$197,200 vs $523,100
Las Cruces
Summer Heat
15.3°F warmer
July avg high 95.6°F vs 80.3°F
Portland
Median Income
$34,863
$85,876 vs $51,013/yr
Portland
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
5.6% vs 7.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Las Cruces, NM | Portland, OR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.8 ✓ Cheaper | 106.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $197,200 ✓ Lower | $523,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $907 ✓ Lower | $1,530⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $51,013 | $85,876 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5%⚠ High | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.0 min ✓ Shorter | 24.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.7% | 22.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 207⚠ High ✓ Safer | 219⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 189⚠ High ✓ Safer | 190⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 232⚠ High ✓ Safer | 263⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (113) ✓ Better | A- (112) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.3% | 52.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.7% | 93.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LAS CRUCES | Portland SD 1J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.9°F ✓ Warmer | 46.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.6°F ✓ Warmer | 80.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.0" ✓ Drier | 44.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.0" ✓ Less | 3.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 111,273 | 646,101 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.8 | 38.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.8% ✓ Higher | 53.3% |
| Under 18 | 23.0% ✓ More | 16.8% |
| Over 65 | 15.3% ✓ More | 14.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Las Cruces's cost of living index is 93.8 vs Portland's 106.6 (US average = 100).
Las Cruces is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Las Cruces leads 16 of 23 categories. Las Cruces wins 16 and Portland wins 7. 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 Portland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($197,200 vs $523,100 median home), income ($51,013 vs $85,876), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Las Cruces, NM and Portland, OR are about 1,244 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.