Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Las Cruces, NM
VS
Yuma, AZ
🏆 Yuma leads 15 of 23 categories
Las Cruces
New Mexico
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.8
Median Household Income
$51,013
Violent Crime Index
189⚠ High
Population
111,273 ✓ Larger
Yuma
Arizona
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,312 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
96,314
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Las Cruces, NM
Pros
More college-educated — 36.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $121/mo less ($907 vs $1,028)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.8)
Cooler summers — July highs near 96°F vs 107°F
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 Yuma by $8,299/yr
Property crime (4873.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Yuma, AZ
Pros
41% less violent crime than Las Cruces
Households earn $8,299 more per year on average
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.4)
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 59°F
Cons
Hot summers — July highs average 107°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 93.8 on the COL index
Yuma
Median Income
$8,299
$59,312 vs $51,013/yr
Yuma
Violent Crime
41% lower
423.6 vs 720.0 per 100k
Yuma
Median Home Value
$11k less
$186,500 vs $197,200
Yuma
Summer Heat
11.1°F warmer
July avg high 106.7°F vs 95.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Las Cruces, NM | Yuma, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.8 | 93.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $197,200 | $186,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $907 ✓ Lower | $1,028 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $51,013 | $59,312 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.0 min | 17.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.7% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 207⚠ High | 91 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 189⚠ High | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 232⚠ High | 59 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (113) ✓ Better | C- (70) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.3% ✓ Higher | 20.3% |
| High School or Higher | 87.7% ✓ Higher | 83.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LAS CRUCES | Yuma Elementary District (4499) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.9°F | 69.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.6°F | 106.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.0" | 3.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 111,273 ✓ Larger | 96,314 |
| Median Age | 31.8 | 32.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.8% | 64.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.0% | 25.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.3% | 16.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Las Cruces's cost of living index is 93.8 vs Yuma's 93.4 (US average = 100).
Yuma is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Yuma leads 15 of 23 categories. Las Cruces wins 8 and Yuma wins 15. 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 Yuma or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($197,200 vs $186,500 median home), income ($51,013 vs $59,312), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Las Cruces, NM and Yuma, AZ are about 451 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.