Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Las Cruces, NM
VS
Scottsdale, AZ
🏆 Scottsdale leads 16 of 23 categories
Las Cruces
New Mexico
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$51,013
Violent Crime Index
189⚠ High
Population
111,273
Scottsdale
Arizona
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$104,197 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
40 ✓ Safer
Population
240,537 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Las Cruces, NM
Pros
Homes cost $455k less ($197,200 vs $651,800)
Rent averages $861/mo less ($907 vs $1,768)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Scottsdale
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.8)
Smaller class sizes — 11.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Scottsdale by $53,184/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 3.5%)
Scottsdale, AZ
Pros
Households earn $53,184 more per year on average
79% less violent crime than Las Cruces
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.0 pts lower (3.5%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (152.5 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 61.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $651,800
Higher rents — median is $1,768/mo
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Las Cruces
Hot summers — July highs average 99°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Las Cruces
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 93.8 vs 104.0 (100 = US avg)
Las Cruces
Median Home Value
$455k less
$197,200 vs $651,800
Scottsdale
Median Income
$53,184
$104,197 vs $51,013/yr
Scottsdale
Violent Crime
79% lower
152.5 vs 720.0 per 100k
Scottsdale
Unemployment
4.0 pp lower
3.5% vs 7.5% unemployment
Scottsdale
Summer Heat
3.8°F warmer
July avg high 99.4°F vs 95.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Las Cruces, NM | Scottsdale, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.8 ✓ Cheaper | 104.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $197,200 ✓ Lower | $651,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $907 ✓ Lower | $1,768⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $51,013 | $104,197 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5%⚠ High | 3.5% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.0 min ✓ Shorter | 21.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.7% | 26.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 207⚠ High | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 189⚠ High | 40 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 232⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (113) | A- (116) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.3% | 61.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.7% | 97.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LAS CRUCES | Scottsdale Unified District (4240) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.9°F | 63.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.6°F | 99.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.0" ✓ Drier | 11.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 111,273 | 240,537 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.8 | 48.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.8% | 67.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.0% ✓ More | 14.3% |
| Over 65 | 15.3% | 25.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Las Cruces's cost of living index is 93.8 vs Scottsdale's 104.0 (US average = 100).
Las Cruces is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Scottsdale leads 16 of 23 categories. Las Cruces wins 7 and Scottsdale wins 16. 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 Scottsdale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($197,200 vs $651,800 median home), income ($51,013 vs $104,197), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Las Cruces, NM and Scottsdale, AZ are about 308 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.