Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Las Cruces, NM
VS
Portsmouth, VA
🏆 Las Cruces leads 15 of 23 categories
Las Cruces
New Mexico
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$51,013
Violent Crime Index
189⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
111,273 ✓ Larger
Portsmouth
Virginia
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$57,154 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
198⚠ High
Population
97,384
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Las Cruces, NM
Pros
Rent averages $318/mo less ($907 vs $1,225)
4% less violent crime than Portsmouth
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)
Homes cost $16k less ($197,200 vs $213,300)
Cons
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
Median income trails Portsmouth by $6,141/yr
Higher unemployment (7.5% vs 6.6%)
Portsmouth, VA
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (6.6%)
Households earn $6,141 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 88°F vs 96°F
Cons
Violent crime (752.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3860.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Las Cruces
Key Differences at a Glance
Las Cruces
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 93.8 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Las Cruces
Violent Crime
4% lower
720.0 vs 752.4 per 100k
Las Cruces
Median Home Value
$16k less
$197,200 vs $213,300
Las Cruces
Summer Heat
7.6°F warmer
July avg high 95.6°F vs 88.0°F
Portsmouth
Median Income
$6,141
$57,154 vs $51,013/yr
Portsmouth
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
6.6% vs 7.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Las Cruces, NM | Portsmouth, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.8 ✓ Cheaper | 97.4 |
| Median Home Value | $197,200 ✓ Lower | $213,300 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $907 ✓ Lower | $1,225 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $51,013 | $57,154 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5%⚠ High | 6.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.0 min ✓ Shorter | 23.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.7% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 207⚠ High | 192⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 189⚠ High ✓ Safer | 198⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 232⚠ High | 184⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (113) ✓ Better | B- (94) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.3% ✓ Higher | 21.2% |
| High School or Higher | 87.7% | 89.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LAS CRUCES | Portsmouth City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.9°F ✓ Warmer | 48.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.6°F ✓ Warmer | 88.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.0" ✓ Drier | 50.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.0" ✓ Less | 3.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 111,273 ✓ Larger | 97,384 |
| Median Age | 31.8 | 35.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.8% | 56.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.0% | 23.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.3% ✓ More | 15.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Las Cruces's cost of living index is 93.8 vs Portsmouth's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Las Cruces is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Las Cruces leads 15 of 23 categories. Las Cruces wins 15 and Portsmouth wins 8. 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 Portsmouth or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($197,200 vs $213,300 median home), income ($51,013 vs $57,154), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Las Cruces, NM and Portsmouth, VA are about 1,751 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.