Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Las Cruces, NM
VS
Providence, RI
🏆 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
Population
111,273
Providence
Rhode Island
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$61,365 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
73 ✓ Safer
Population
189,715 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Las Cruces, NM
Pros
Homes cost $96k less ($197,200 vs $293,000)
Rent averages $307/mo less ($907 vs $1,214)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 38°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.8)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Providence
Cons
Violent crime (720.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Providence by $10,352/yr
Property crime (4873.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Providence, RI
Pros
62% less violent crime than Las Cruces
Households earn $10,352 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 96°F
Cons
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Las Cruces
Key Differences at a Glance
Las Cruces
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 93.8 vs 100.9 (100 = US avg)
Las Cruces
Median Home Value
$96k less
$197,200 vs $293,000
Las Cruces
Summer Heat
12.0°F warmer
July avg high 95.6°F vs 83.6°F
Providence
Median Income
$10,352
$61,365 vs $51,013/yr
Providence
Violent Crime
62% lower
276.7 vs 720.0 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Las Cruces, NM | Providence, RI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.8 ✓ Cheaper | 100.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $197,200 ✓ Lower | $293,000 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $907 ✓ Lower | $1,214 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $51,013 | $61,365 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5%⚠ High | 7.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.0 min ✓ Shorter | 24.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.7% | 11.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 207⚠ High | 75 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 189⚠ High | 73 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 232⚠ High | 79 ✓ 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 | 14.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.3% ✓ Higher | 34.5% |
| High School or Higher | 87.7% ✓ Higher | 82.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LAS CRUCES | Providence |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.9°F ✓ Warmer | 38.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.6°F ✓ Warmer | 83.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.0" ✓ Drier | 47.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.0" ✓ Less | 36.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 111,273 | 189,715 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.8 | 32.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.8% ✓ Higher | 39.9% |
| Under 18 | 23.0% ✓ More | 20.7% |
| Over 65 | 15.3% ✓ More | 11.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Las Cruces's cost of living index is 93.8 vs Providence's 100.9 (US average = 100).
Las Cruces is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Las Cruces leads 15 of 23 categories. Las Cruces wins 15 and Providence 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 Providence or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($197,200 vs $293,000 median home), income ($51,013 vs $61,365), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Las Cruces, NM and Providence, RI are about 2,041 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.