Las Cruces
RANK #578 / 996 NAT · #5 / 11 NM · POP 219,870
1YR FORECAST: +0.4%
5YR OUTLOOK: +22%
Doña Ana County, New Mexico, is characterized by its desert landscape framed by the Organ Mountains, a prominent landmark that defines the eastern skyline. Located in southern New Mexico, bordering El Paso County, Texas, and Chihuahua, Mexico, the county seat of Las Cruces is the state's second-most populous municipality. Commutes within the county and to El Paso are facilitated by various public transportation options, including Roadrunner Transit and the NMDOT Park and Ride. The region offers extensive outdoor recreation, with trails for hiking, biking, and wildlife observation in areas like Dripping Springs Natural Area, Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument, and Prehistoric Trackways National Monument.
Life in Doña Ana County blends a strong agricultural tradition, particularly known for chile and pecan production, with increasing urbanization. The area attracts a mix of families, students attending New Mexico State University, and retirees, drawn by the quality of life and natural amenities. The economy is experiencing growth in service-related industries, with recent significant investments in data centers and energy infrastructure. These developments aim to create new jobs and contribute to the region's economic landscape.
Below national median (4.7x)
Below national median
Prices declining
Housing is fairly valued at 4.6x relative to local economic output. Climate and geography support a structural premium. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Source: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Project Jupiter Data Center Campus
STACK Infrastructure, BorderPlex Digital Assets, Oracle, OpenAI
|
$165,000M | Under Construction |
|
Milagro Solar + Storage Project
EDF Renewables, El Paso Electric (EPE)
|
$150M | Operating |
|
Santa Teresa Solar & Storage Facility
DESRI, El Paso Electric (EPE)
|
$150M | Under Construction |
|
Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Improvements (Project Jupiter commitment)
STACK Infrastructure, BorderPlex Digital Assets
|
$50M | Planned |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.
Doña Ana County scores 42/100 on the Boom Town Index, landing in the middle of the pack among 996 U.S. counties (#578). Median household income is $51,232 and job growth is running at +2.2%. The data points to a county with mixed signals — some positive indicators alongside areas that lag faster-growing peers.
Housing in Doña Ana County is roughly in line with national affordability norms. The median home costs $187,400 and the income-to-home-value ratio sits at 0.27, with rents averaging $858/month. Not a bargain, but not a stretch for most local earners either.
Doña Ana County is growing on multiple fronts. Population is up +0.8% year-over-year while employers added jobs at a +2.2% clip. Home values shifted -0.8% in the past year.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 2.58% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Doña Ana County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.