Las Cruces

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Las Cruces, NM

Area Guide

Welcome to the "City of Crosses."

Mountains College Town Government Military Views Outdoors Adventures

Nestled in the Mesilla Valley with the Organ Mountains as its backdrop, Las Cruces combines rich Southwestern heritage with contemporary living. New Mexico State University is central to the community, contributing to the cultural landscape of New Mexico's second-largest city. The area features hiking trails throughout the Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument, community parks, and historic Mesilla Plaza, where traditional luminaria displays illuminate the plaza during holiday celebrations. Housing choices span from newer developments in the east side to traditional adobe homes near downtown. Current rental rates show one-bedroom apartments averaging $980 monthly, reflecting a 4.4% annual increase, while two-bedroom units typically rent for $1,126.

Las Cruces celebrates its chile-growing heritage throughout the year, including the annual New Year's Eve Chile Drop downtown. The historic downtown district hosts a twice-weekly farmers and crafts market on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Major employers include White Sands Missile Range and NASA's White Sands Test Facility, while Spaceport America highlights the area's aerospace presence. With abundant sunshine and an active arts scene centered around the Branigan Cultural Center and historic Rio Grande Theatre, Las Cruces offers residents opportunities for outdoor recreation, cultural experiences, and community connections.

Explore the City

There are plenty of outdoor opportunities near Las Cruces, like Tortugas Mountain.

New Mexico State University is not far.

Fun restaurants, bars, and stores await you in Mesquite Historic District.

Rent Trends

As of December 2025, the average apartment rent in Las Cruces, NM is $670 for a studio, $993 for one bedroom, $1,139 for two bedrooms, and $1,343 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Las Cruces has increased by 0.7% in the past year.

Property Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Apartment
$993/month
689 Sq Ft
House
$1,851/month
1,691 Sq Ft
Condo
$1,440/month
780 Sq Ft
See Rental Market Trends in Las Cruces, NM

Cost of Living

The cost of living in Las Cruces, NM is 9.4% lower than the national average. Generally, housing in Las Cruces is 18.5% less expensive than the national average, with rent falling between $670 - $1,344. You can expect to pay 3.0% less for groceries, 18.8% less for utilities, and 7.8% less for transportation.

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Transportation

42

Car-Dependent

out of 100 WalkScore® Rating

This area is considered a car-dependent area and most errands will require a car.

47

Somewhat Bikeable

out of 100 BikeScore® Rating

You might be able to find places to ride your bike in this area, but you’ll most likely want your car for most errands.

Schools

Desert Hills Elementary

Public

Grades PK-5

559 Students

Hillrise Elementary

Public

Grades PK-5

446 Students

White Sands Elementary

Public

Grades PK-8

275 Students

Conlee Elementary

Public

Grades PK-5

422 Students

Highland Elementary

Public

Grades PK-5

744 Students

Camino Real Middle

Public

Grades 6-8

965 Students

White Sands Elementary

Public

Grades PK-8

275 Students

Sierra Middle

Public

Grades 6-8

799 Students

Picacho Middle

Public

Grades 6-8

727 Students

Zia Middle

Public

Grades 6-8

688 Students

Mayfield High

Public

Grades 9-12

1,421 Students

Onate High

Public

Grades 9-12

1,980 Students

Las Cruces High

Public

Grades 9-12

1,787 Students

Centennial High School

Public

Grades 9-12

1,615 Students

Early College High School

Public

Grades 9-12

327 Students

Points of Interest

Parks and Recreation

  • Museum of Nature and Science
  • New Mexico Farm and Ranch Museum
  • Bicentennial Log Cabin Museum
  • Mesilla Valley Bosque State Park
  • Prehistoric Trackways National Monument

Top Apartments in Las Cruces

Houses for Rent in Las Cruces

Property Management Companies in Las Cruces, NM

Living in Las Cruces

Transportation

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Las Cruces operates the RoadRUNNER transit, a small but effective system and a great way to get around town. The fleet consists of fourteen 35 foot wheelchair accessible buses that run all around town for a dollar a ride. There are nine routes total, but it does not run on Sundays, so owning a car, even if you've invested in a bus pass, isn't a bad idea. Once you get to the Eastside or Main Street, Las Cruces can be surprisingly walkable, but getting there can be a pain if you don't have a set of wheels, due to the spread-out nature of Las Cruces. Some people bicycle from neighborhood to neighborhood, but spreading over more than 70 square miles, that can be a bit impractical if you need to make a longer trip.

Shopping

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Las Cruces is a part of the whole Route 66 culture that runs through New Mexico, so when you browse the Eastside, which is quickly becoming the commercial center for the city, expect to see a lot of fun, kitschy, touristy shops and diners where you can find memorabilia to that effect. The real attraction, when it comes to shopping in Las Cruces, is the Downtown Mall. This can be found on Main Street, where you'll see locals selling handmade art and crafts from serapes to ceramics, as well as Native American, Mexican and Southern style cooking.

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Methodology

† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.

Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.

Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in November 2025.