CityCompare

Las Cruces NM vs Port St. Lucie FL — Cost of Living, Crime & Income Comparison 2026

Updated May 2026 · Source: US Census ACS 5-Year (2023), FBI CDE (2023), BLS OEWS (2024)

Las Cruces, NM

New Mexico · Population: 112,612

  • Median HH Income$55,176
  • Median Home Price$290,963
  • Unemployment7.4%
  • Bachelor's+37.3%

Port St. Lucie, FL

Florida · Population: 220,453

  • Median HH Income$78,137
  • Median Home Price$327,700
  • Unemployment5.5%
  • Bachelor's+26.8%

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population
Las Cruces
112,612
Port St. Lucie
220,453
Port St. Lucie +
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Las Cruces
N/A
Port St. Lucie
N/A
Median Age
Las Cruces
32.7
Las Cruces +
Port St. Lucie
43.7
Foreign Born
Las Cruces
10.1%
Port St. Lucie
19.5%
Port St. Lucie +
White
Las Cruces
54.1%
Port St. Lucie
60.0%
Port St. Lucie +
Black
Las Cruces
2.6%
Port St. Lucie
19.2%
Port St. Lucie +
Asian
Las Cruces
1.9%
Port St. Lucie
2.2%
Port St. Lucie +
Hispanic
Las Cruces
59.4%
Las Cruces +
Port St. Lucie
23.0%
Spanish at Home
Las Cruces
N/A
Port St. Lucie
N/A

Economy

Median HH Income
Las Cruces
$55,176
Port St. Lucie
$78,137
Port St. Lucie +
Per Capita Income
Las Cruces
$30,804
Port St. Lucie
$36,352
Port St. Lucie +
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Las Cruces
$53,141
Port St. Lucie
$65,328
Port St. Lucie +
Unemployment Rate
Las Cruces
7.4%
Port St. Lucie
5.5%
Port St. Lucie +
Poverty Rate
Las Cruces
22.0%
Port St. Lucie
8.5%
Port St. Lucie +
Bachelor's Degree+
Las Cruces
37.3%
Las Cruces +
Port St. Lucie
26.8%

Housing

Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Las Cruces
$290,963
Las Cruces +
Port St. Lucie
$327,700
Homeownership Rate
Las Cruces
55.6%
Port St. Lucie
83.2%
Port St. Lucie +

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Las Cruces
834
Port St. Lucie
324
Port St. Lucie +
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Las Cruces
3177
Port St. Lucie
1453
Port St. Lucie +

Health

Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Las Cruces
35.4%
Port St. Lucie
30.5%
Port St. Lucie +
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Las Cruces
13.0%
Las Cruces +
Port St. Lucie
13.1%
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Las Cruces
15.8%
Las Cruces +
Port St. Lucie
16.6%
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Las Cruces
17.7%
Port St. Lucie
14.5%
Port St. Lucie +
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Las Cruces
14.9%
Port St. Lucie
14.5%
Port St. Lucie +
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Las Cruces
12.1%
Las Cruces +
Port St. Lucie
12.9%

Climate

Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Las Cruces
58.8°F
Port St. Lucie
N/A
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Las Cruces
N/A
Port St. Lucie
N/A

Air Quality

PM2.5 Annual Avg
EPA AQS (state-level est.)
Las Cruces
6.1 µg/m³
Las Cruces +
Port St. Lucie
7.2 µg/m³
Good Air Days
AQI ≤ 50
Las Cruces
75.0%
Port St. Lucie
75.0%
Tie

Commute

Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Las Cruces
20.5 min
Las Cruces +
Port St. Lucie
32.0 min

Which City is Right for You?

Port St. Lucie leads in median household income at $78,137, while las Cruces offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $290,963. On public safety, Port St. Lucie is safer with a violent crime rate of 324 per 100,000 residents, compared to 834 in Las Cruces. Port St. Lucie has a lower unemployment rate at 5.5%, and Las Cruces has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 6.1 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Port St. Lucie scores better with a lower obesity rate of 30.5%.

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About Las Cruces & Port St. Lucie

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