2025 Compare Cities Education:
Las Cruces, NM vs Santa Barbara, CA

Change Cities
Highlights
- Santa Barbara spends 35.7% more per student than Las Cruces.
- The Student Teacher Ratio is 39.6% higher in Santa Barbara than in Las Cruces. (lower means fewer students in each classroom).
- Santa Barbara had 0.5% more residents who had graduated High School compared to Las Cruces
 Las Cruces, NMSanta Barbara, CAUnited States
 Expend. per Student  Unlock$16,705$15,905
 Educ. Expend. per Student$11,055  Unlock$13,142
 Instr. Expend. per Student  Unlock$7,862$7,999
 Pupil/Teacher Ratio15.05  Unlock16.23
 Students per Librarian  Unlock123874573
 Students per Counselor468  Unlock530
 Grade School Educ.  Unlock7.2%4.8%
 Some High School Educ.6.4%  Unlock6.3%
 High School Educ.  Unlock88.0%88.9%
 Some College Educ.22.0%  Unlock20.0%
 2 yr College Grad.  Unlock7.2%8.7%
 4 yr College Grad.36.4%  Unlock33.7%
 Masters Grad.  Unlock12.6%9.3%
 Professional Degree2.2%  Unlock2.2%
 Doctorate Degree  Unlock3.5%1.5%
Reviews for Las Cruces    50 Reviews

I've lived in Las Cruces for six months now. Before moving here I was in Albuquerque (3 hrs north) for four years and before that I lived in Northern Utah most of my  More

   |    Reply

Over 2 years ago

Las Cruces is a hidden gem! Homes are still affordable, you're not far from bigger city entertainment/transportation, and the scenery in beautiful. It's not all dry  More

   |    Reply

Over 4 years ago

It depends on what you are looking for; for me Las Cruces is and ideal place. I am retired and the kind of places I seek to live in have changed over the years. I have  More

   |    Reply

Start Your Review of Las Cruces

Reviews for Santa Barbara    51 Reviews

I moved to Santa Barbara around 23 years ago to study at Brooks, which like most of the Santa Barbara that I knew—has been destroyed. Homelessness, drugs, gangs, high  More

   |    Reply

Over 4 years ago

I fell in love with Santa Barbara about thirty years ago and finally moved here a few years ago. Because of the price of homes, it is an expensive place to live. The  More

   |    Reply

If you like high crime, paying a $4,500 a month mortgage and crazy high taxes, this is the place for you. It’s too bad because it wasn’t always like this. When I moved  More

   |    Reply

Start Your Review of Santa Barbara


Premium Subscription
Includes Cost of Living compares for child care, utilities, transportation, health, taxes, housing for home owners vs renters, weather, insurance premiums and so much more.


The premier source for comprehensive city data for over 30 years.

© Best Places. All rights reserved.