Quality of life comparison
If you lived in New Mexico instead of North Carolina, you would:
Health
live 1.6 years less
In North Carolina, the average life expectancy is 76 years (75 years for men, 80 years for women) as of 2020. In New Mexico, that number is 74 years (74 years for men, 80 years for women) as of 2020.
Economy
be 23.5% more likely to be unemployed
In North Carolina, 3.4% of adults are unemployed as of 2025. In New Mexico, that number is 4.2% as of 2025.
be 46.3% more likely to live below the poverty line
In North Carolina, 12.1% live below the poverty line as of 2023. In New Mexico, however, that number is 17.7% as of 2023.
Safety
be 96.8% more likely to be a victim of violent crime
North Carolina has a violent crime rate of 379 per 100,000 people as of 2023. In New Mexico, that number is 745 per 100,000 as of 2023.
be 43.8% more likely to be a victim of property crime
North Carolina has a property crime rate of 1,998 per 100,000 people as of 2023. In New Mexico, that number is 2,872 per 100,000 as of 2023.
Housing & Income
pay 10.5% less for a home
The median home value in North Carolina is $259,400 as of 2023, compared to $232,200 in New Mexico as of 2023.
pay 12.1% less in rent
The median monthly gross rent in North Carolina is $1,162 as of 2023, while in New Mexico, it is $1,021 as of 2023.
earn 11.1% less money
The median household income in North Carolina is $69,904 as of 2023, while in New Mexico, it is $62,125 as of 2023.
Lifestyle
commute 1.9 minutes less
The average one-way commute in North Carolina takes 25.1 minutes as of 2023. In New Mexico, it takes 23.2 minutes as of 2023.
live in an area that is 92.1% less densely populated
North Carolina has a population density of 86.2 people per sq km as of 2023. In New Mexico, that number is 6.8 people per sq km as of 2023.
be 12.3% more likely to smoke
In North Carolina, 14.6% of adults smoke as of 2022. In New Mexico, that number is 16.4% as of 2022.
be 19.6% more likely to be food insecure
In North Carolina, 11.2% of the population is food insecure as of 2021. In New Mexico, that number is 13.4% as of 2021.
The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: Feeding America, OECD Regional Demography, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), Bureau of Labor Statistics, US Census Bureau (American Community Survey), FBI Uniform Crime Reporting.
