Lubbock receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Lubbock
Las Cruces
Opportunity
56 · Top 47%
vs42 · Bottom 23%
Growth
79 · Top 7%
vs63 · Top 29%
Climate
65 · Bottom 48%
vs66 · Bottom 49%
Physical resilience
24 · Bottom 13%
vs22 · Bottom 11%
Housing affordability
89 · Bottom 35%
vs86 · Bottom 28%
Access
94 · Top 17%
vs82 · Top 38%
Economic stability
52 · Top 48%
vs35 · Bottom 26%
Measured values
| Metric | Lubbock | Las Cruces | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 358,708 | 224,266 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $63,629 | $56,848 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $35,300 | $29,907 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 68/sq mi | 59/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $202,700 | $220,800 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,159 | $934 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 57.2% | 65.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.5% | 5.7% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -0.2% | -0.4% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 31.6% | 31.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 16.9% | 21.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 2,675 | 782 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 7.5 | 3.5 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 2.7% | -12.6% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 93°F | 94°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 27°F | 24°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 18.3" | 10.3" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 14 mi | 33 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 18.9 min | 24.2 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 32.4 | 34.3 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Lubbock
Elevated or high exposure: drought, hail, strong wind.
Las Cruces
Elevated or high exposure: drought, inland flooding.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Lubbock
66
Your Score
62
Area Score
Las Cruces
57
Your Score
53
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Lubbock, TX Metro Area · Las Cruces, NM Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology