Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Las Cruces, NM
VS
Topeka, KS
🏆 Topeka leads 13 of 23 categories
Las Cruces
New Mexico
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.8
Median Household Income
$51,013
Violent Crime Index
189⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
111,273
Topeka
Kansas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,052 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
225⚠ High
Population
126,431 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Las Cruces, NM
Pros
16% less violent crime than Topeka
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 40°F
More college-educated — 36.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.8)
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 5.0%)
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Topeka
Topeka, KS
Pros
Homes cost $73k less ($124,700 vs $197,200)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (5.0%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.9)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Las Cruces
Cooler summers — July highs near 89°F vs 96°F
Households earn $3,039 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (856.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3642.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Las Cruces
Violent Crime
16% lower
720.0 vs 856.5 per 100k
Las Cruces
Summer Heat
7.1°F warmer
July avg high 95.6°F vs 88.5°F
Topeka
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 85.9 vs 93.8 (100 = US avg)
Topeka
Median Income
$3,039
$54,052 vs $51,013/yr
Topeka
Median Home Value
$73k less
$124,700 vs $197,200
Topeka
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
5.0% vs 7.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Las Cruces, NM | Topeka, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.8 | 85.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $197,200 | $124,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $907 ✓ Lower | $926 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $51,013 | $54,052 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.0 min | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.7% | 8.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 207⚠ High | 205⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 189⚠ High ✓ Safer | 225⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 232⚠ High | 173⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (113) ✓ Better | B (102) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 12.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.3% ✓ Higher | 28.5% |
| High School or Higher | 87.7% | 91.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LAS CRUCES | Topeka Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.9°F ✓ Warmer | 39.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.6°F ✓ Warmer | 88.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.0" ✓ Drier | 37.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.0" ✓ Less | 17.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 111,273 | 126,431 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.8 | 37.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.8% | 59.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.0% ✓ More | 22.4% |
| Over 65 | 15.3% | 18.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Las Cruces's cost of living index is 93.8 vs Topeka's 85.9 (US average = 100).
Topeka is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Topeka leads 13 of 23 categories. Las Cruces wins 10 and Topeka wins 13. 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 Topeka or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($197,200 vs $124,700 median home), income ($51,013 vs $54,052), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Las Cruces, NM and Topeka, KS are about 775 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.