Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Las Cruces, NM
VS
Santa Ana, CA
🏆 Las Cruces leads 12 of 23 categories
Las Cruces
New Mexico
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$51,013
Violent Crime Index
189⚠ High
Population
111,273
Santa Ana
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$84,210 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
130⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
311,379 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Las Cruces, NM
Pros
Homes cost $427k less ($197,200 vs $624,000)
Rent averages $978/mo less ($907 vs $1,885)
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Ana
More college-educated — 36.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.8)
Cons
Median income trails Santa Ana by $33,197/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 5.5%)
Santa Ana, CA
Pros
Households earn $33,197 more per year on average
32% less violent crime than Las Cruces
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (5.5%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 96°F
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 59°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $624,000
Higher rents — median is $1,885/mo
Violent crime (493.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 22% higher than Las Cruces
Key Differences at a Glance
Las Cruces
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 93.8 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Las Cruces
Median Home Value
$427k less
$197,200 vs $624,000
Las Cruces
Summer Heat
13.1°F warmer
July avg high 95.6°F vs 82.5°F
Santa Ana
Median Income
$33,197
$84,210 vs $51,013/yr
Santa Ana
Violent Crime
32% lower
493.1 vs 720.0 per 100k
Santa Ana
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
5.5% vs 7.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Las Cruces, NM | Santa Ana, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.8 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $197,200 ✓ Lower | $624,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $907 ✓ Lower | $1,885⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $51,013 | $84,210 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.0 min ✓ Shorter | 25.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.7% | 8.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 207⚠ High | 110⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 189⚠ High | 130⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 232⚠ High | 81 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (113) ✓ Better | C+ (84) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.3% ✓ Higher | 17.9% |
| High School or Higher | 87.7% ✓ Higher | 65.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LAS CRUCES | Santa Ana Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.9°F | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.6°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.0" ✓ Drier | 12.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 111,273 | 311,379 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.8 | 33.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.8% ✓ Higher | 44.8% |
| Under 18 | 23.0% | 24.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.3% ✓ More | 10.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Las Cruces's cost of living index is 93.8 vs Santa Ana's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Las Cruces is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Las Cruces leads 12 of 23 categories. Las Cruces wins 12 and Santa Ana wins 11. 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 Santa Ana or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($197,200 vs $624,000 median home), income ($51,013 vs $84,210), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Las Cruces, NM and Santa Ana, CA are about 650 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.