Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Las Cruces, NM
VS
Tyler, TX
🏆 Las Cruces leads 12 of 22 categories
Las Cruces
New Mexico
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.8
Median Household Income
$51,013
Violent Crime Index
189⚠ High
Population
111,273 ✓ Larger
Tyler
Texas
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$63,056 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
103⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
106,440
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Las Cruces, NM
Pros
Rent averages $206/mo less ($907 vs $1,113)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.8)
More college-educated — 36.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 11.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (720.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Tyler by $12,043/yr
Property crime (4873.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.5% vs 5.3%)
Tyler, TX
Pros
46% less violent crime than Las Cruces
Households earn $12,043 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (5.3%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.4)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Tyler
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 92.4 vs 93.8 (100 = US avg)
Tyler
Median Income
$12,043
$63,056 vs $51,013/yr
Tyler
Violent Crime
46% lower
391.2 vs 720.0 per 100k
Tyler
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
5.3% vs 7.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Las Cruces, NM | Tyler, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.8 | 92.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $197,200 ✓ Lower | $205,200 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $907 ✓ Lower | $1,113 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $51,013 | $63,056 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.0 min ✓ Shorter | 20.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.7% ✓ Higher | 6.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 207⚠ High | 98 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 189⚠ High | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 232⚠ High | 91 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (113) ✓ Better | B (97) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.3% ✓ Higher | 31.1% |
| High School or Higher | 87.7% | 87.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LAS CRUCES | TYLER ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.9°F ✓ Warmer | 57.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.6°F ✓ Warmer | 93.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.0" ✓ Drier | 47.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.0" | 0.5" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 111,273 ✓ Larger | 106,440 |
| Median Age | 31.8 | 34.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.8% | 54.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.0% ✓ More | 22.9% |
| Over 65 | 15.3% | 16.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Las Cruces's cost of living index is 93.8 vs Tyler's 92.4 (US average = 100).
Tyler is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Las Cruces leads 12 of 22 categories. Las Cruces wins 12 and Tyler 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 Tyler or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($197,200 vs $205,200 median home), income ($51,013 vs $63,056), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Las Cruces, NM and Tyler, TX are about 670 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.