Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Las Cruces, NM
VS
Springfield, MO
🏆 Las Cruces leads 13 of 23 categories
Las Cruces
New Mexico
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.8
Median Household Income
$51,013 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
189⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
111,273
Springfield
Missouri
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$43,450
Violent Crime Index
310⚠ High
Population
168,873 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Las Cruces, NM
Pros
39% less violent crime than Springfield
Households earn $7,563 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 43°F
More college-educated — 36.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.8)
Smaller class sizes — 11.2:1 student-teacher ratio
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
Higher unemployment (7.5% vs 4.8%)
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Springfield
Springfield, MO
Pros
Homes cost $51k less ($146,400 vs $197,200)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.7 pts lower (4.8%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.3)
Cooler summers — July highs near 88°F vs 96°F
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Las Cruces
Cons
Violent crime (1178.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Las Cruces by $7,563/yr
Property crime (4184.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Las Cruces
Median Income
$7,563
$51,013 vs $43,450/yr
Las Cruces
Violent Crime
39% lower
720.0 vs 1178.1 per 100k
Las Cruces
Summer Heat
7.4°F warmer
July avg high 95.6°F vs 88.2°F
Springfield
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 89.3 vs 93.8 (100 = US avg)
Springfield
Median Home Value
$51k less
$146,400 vs $197,200
Springfield
Unemployment
2.7 pp lower
4.8% vs 7.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Las Cruces, NM | Springfield, MO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.8 | 89.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $197,200 | $146,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $907 | $878 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $51,013 ✓ Higher | $43,450 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5%⚠ High | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.0 min | 18.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.7% ✓ Higher | 7.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 207⚠ High ✓ Safer | 266⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 189⚠ High ✓ Safer | 310⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 232⚠ High | 199⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (113) ✓ Better | B+ (105) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.3% ✓ Higher | 30.0% |
| High School or Higher | 87.7% | 91.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LAS CRUCES | SPRINGFIELD R-XII |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.9°F ✓ Warmer | 43.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.6°F ✓ Warmer | 88.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.0" ✓ Drier | 46.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.0" ✓ Less | 13.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 111,273 | 168,873 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.8 | 33.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.8% ✓ Higher | 42.3% |
| Under 18 | 23.0% ✓ More | 17.4% |
| Over 65 | 15.3% | 15.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Las Cruces's cost of living index is 93.8 vs Springfield's 89.3 (US average = 100).
Springfield is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Las Cruces leads 13 of 23 categories. Las Cruces wins 13 and Springfield wins 10. 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 Springfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($197,200 vs $146,400 median home), income ($51,013 vs $43,450), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Las Cruces, NM and Springfield, MO are about 836 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.