Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Las Cruces, NM
VS
Westminster, CA
🏆 Las Cruces leads 13 of 22 categories
Las Cruces
New Mexico
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$51,013
Violent Crime Index
189⚠ High
Population
111,273 ✓ Larger
Westminster
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$80,271 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
115⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
90,638
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Las Cruces, NM
Pros
Homes cost $580k less ($197,200 vs $777,100)
Rent averages $1070/mo less ($907 vs $1,977)
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Westminster
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 36.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.8)
Cons
Median income trails Westminster by $29,258/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
Westminster, CA
Pros
Households earn $29,258 more per year on average
39% less violent crime than Las Cruces
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 96°F
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 59°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $777,100
Higher rents — median is $1,977/mo
Cost of living runs 22% higher than Las Cruces
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Las Cruces
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 93.8 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Las Cruces
Median Home Value
$580k less
$197,200 vs $777,100
Las Cruces
Summer Heat
13.1°F warmer
July avg high 95.6°F vs 82.5°F
Westminster
Median Income
$29,258
$80,271 vs $51,013/yr
Westminster
Violent Crime
39% lower
436.2 vs 720.0 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Las Cruces, NM | Westminster, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.8 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $197,200 ✓ Lower | $777,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $907 ✓ Lower | $1,977⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $51,013 | $80,271 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5%⚠ High | 7.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.0 min ✓ Shorter | 28.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.7% | 9.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 207⚠ High | 116⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 189⚠ High | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 232⚠ High | 119⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (113) ✓ Better | C- (72) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.3% ✓ Higher | 26.0% |
| High School or Higher | 87.7% ✓ Higher | 77.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LAS CRUCES | Westminster |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.9°F | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.6°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.0" ✓ Drier | 12.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 111,273 ✓ Larger | 90,638 |
| Median Age | 31.8 | 41.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.8% ✓ Higher | 52.4% |
| Under 18 | 23.0% ✓ More | 21.2% |
| Over 65 | 15.3% | 17.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Las Cruces's cost of living index is 93.8 vs Westminster's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Las Cruces is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Las Cruces leads 13 of 22 categories. Las Cruces wins 13 and Westminster wins 9. 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 Westminster or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($197,200 vs $777,100 median home), income ($51,013 vs $80,271), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Las Cruces, NM and Westminster, CA are about 656 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.