Median Age
35 Years
Largest Age Group
20-29 Years
Approximately 18% of Residents
Under 20
26%
Over 65
17%
Las Cruces
Las Cruces, NM Area Guide
Avg Rent
$994
Population
121,334
Renter Mix
44% Rent
Welcome to the "City of Crosses."
Mountains
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College Town
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Government
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Military
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Views
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Outdoors
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Adventures
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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.
Demographics
Median Household Income
$46,356
Average: $68,506
Education
32,280
Residents Have a Degree
Job Market
53,801
Workers Employed
Age Distribution
Get a sense of this area's population profile.
Housing Distribution
Las Cruces has more homeowners than renters.
Renters
44%
Non-Renters
56%
Education Distribution
Review this city's overall education levels.
Bachelor's or Higher
23%
Other Education
77%
Rent Trends
As of April 2026, the average apartment rent in Las Cruces, NM is $650 for a studio, $995 for one bedroom, $1,143 for two bedrooms, and $1,315 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Las Cruces has increased by 0.8% in the past year.
Property Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Apartment
$995/month
690 Sq Ft
House
$1,710/month
1,559 Sq Ft
Condo
$1,245/month
810 Sq Ft
Cost of Living
The cost of living in Las Cruces, NM is 8.8% lower than the national average. Generally, housing in Las Cruces is 16.6% less expensive than the national average, with rent falling between $650 - $1,315. You can expect to pay 3.1% less for groceries, 18.4% less for utilities, and 7.9% less for transportation.
Compare Cities
Getting Around
Explore how walkable, bikeable, drivable, and transit-friendly Las Cruces, NM is for everyday living.
Fairly Walkable
Walkability
50
/ 100
Limited Public Transit
Transit
20
/ 100
Very Drivable
Drivability
80
/ 100
Fairly Bikeable
Bikeability
50
/ 100
Scores provided by
Schools
Public
Grades PK-5
559 Students
Public
Grades PK-5
446 Students
Public
Grades PK-8
275 Students
Public
Grades PK-5
422 Students
Public
Grades K-8
198 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
965 Students
Public
Grades PK-8
275 Students
Public
Grades K-8
198 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
799 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
727 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
170 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
1,421 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
1,980 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
1,787 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
1,615 Students
School data provided by
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Data provided by
GreatSchools.org
© 2026. All rights reserved.
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Data provided by
GreatSchools.org
© 2026. All rights reserved.
Points of Interest
Shopping Centers
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
Military Bases
Top Apartments in Las Cruces
Houses for Rent in Las Cruces
Property Management Companies in Las Cruces, NM
New Earth Residential
-
57
Communities
-
11,525
Units
-
25
Cities
5 Communities in Las Cruces
Engel Realty Company
-
19
Communities
-
2,433
Units
-
8
Cities
2 Communities in Las Cruces
Cardinal Group Management and Advisory, LLC
-
160
Communities
-
32,084
Units
-
84
Cities
1 Community in Las Cruces
Yugo
-
51
Communities
-
10,995
Units
-
41
Cities
1 Community in Las Cruces
Haley Communities
-
42
Communities
-
8,929
Units
-
35
Cities
1 Community in Las Cruces
Hamilton Point Investments
-
33
Communities
-
9,006
Units
-
28
Cities
1 Community in Las Cruces
Living in Las Cruces
Search Nearby Rentals
Nearby City Rentals
Nearby Neighborhood Rentals
Nearby House Rentals
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 February 2026.
Demographic information comes from Neustar and combines detailed address data with U.S. Census and American Community Survey statistics to produce reliable local estimates.