Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Las Cruces, NM
VS
St. Louis, MO
🏆 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
St. Louis
Missouri
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.3
Median Household Income
$52,941 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
360⚠ High
Population
298,018 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Las Cruces, NM
Pros
47% less violent crime than St. Louis
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 41°F
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.8)
3% cheaper overall cost of living than St. Louis
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 5.4%)
St. Louis, MO
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (5.4%)
Homes cost $23k less ($174,100 vs $197,200)
Cooler summers — July highs near 90°F vs 96°F
Cons
Violent crime (1367.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (5706.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Las Cruces
Key Differences at a Glance
Las Cruces
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 93.8 vs 96.3 (100 = US avg)
Las Cruces
Violent Crime
47% lower
720.0 vs 1367.1 per 100k
Las Cruces
Summer Heat
6.0°F warmer
July avg high 95.6°F vs 89.6°F
St. Louis
Median Income
$1,928
$52,941 vs $51,013/yr
St. Louis
Median Home Value
$23k less
$174,100 vs $197,200
St. Louis
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
5.4% vs 7.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Las Cruces, NM | St. Louis, MO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.8 ✓ Cheaper | 96.3 |
| Median Home Value | $197,200 | $174,100 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $907 ✓ Lower | $938 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $51,013 | $52,941 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.0 min ✓ Shorter | 23.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.7% | 12.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 207⚠ High ✓ Safer | 325⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 189⚠ High ✓ Safer | 360⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 232⚠ High ✓ Safer | 272⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (113) ✓ Better | B+ (107) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 11.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.3% | 38.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.7% | 90.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LAS CRUCES | ST. LOUIS CITY |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.9°F ✓ Warmer | 40.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.6°F ✓ Warmer | 89.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.0" ✓ Drier | 43.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.0" ✓ Less | 13.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 111,273 | 298,018 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.8 | 36.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.8% ✓ Higher | 44.9% |
| Under 18 | 23.0% ✓ More | 18.5% |
| Over 65 | 15.3% ✓ More | 14.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Las Cruces's cost of living index is 93.8 vs St. Louis's 96.3 (US average = 100).
Las Cruces is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Las Cruces leads 15 of 23 categories. Las Cruces wins 15 and St. Louis 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 St. Louis or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($197,200 vs $174,100 median home), income ($51,013 vs $52,941), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Las Cruces, NM and St. Louis, MO are about 1,026 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.