NAICS 44-45

Retail Trade in Las Cruces, NM

Metro Market Score 26.0 (Favorable), ranked #5 of 378 metros. 549 establishments, 8,134 jobs.

Metro Market Assessment

Metro Market Score 26.0
Favorable 0-35
Moderate 35-48
Challenging 48-60
Difficult 60+
Favorable

Lower is better. Relative to national retail trade average.

📈Rapid GrowthFavorable Market🌱Emerging Market

Employment in Las Cruces's retail trade sector grew faster than most metros last year, pushing its growth trend index to 83.6. Combined with a 26.0 market score, this metro sits in the top 10% for overall conditions.

Industry Concentration
25.9
LQ: 1.03
Rank #98 of 378 metros
Wage Competitiveness
5.0
$32,745 avg wage
Growth Trend
83.6
Employment growth index
Rank #63 of 378 metros
Wage Pressure
66.8
YoY wage change index

549 Retail Trade Firms in Las Cruces

549
Establishments
+5.4% YoY
8,134
Total Employment
+1.6% YoY
$32,745
Average Annual Wage
+1.0% YoY
1.03
Location Quotient
Above national avg
Within New Mexico
#1 of 4
retail trade metros in state
New Mexico state rank
#11 of 51
for retail trade entry risk
vs State Median
-29.2
better than median (55.3)

Las Cruces vs New Mexico Statewide

How this metro's retail trade market compares to New Mexico overall. The state ranks #11/51 for entry risk.

Measure Las Cruces NM Statewide
Overall Score 26.0 Favorable 39.9 Moderate
Score Type Metro Market Score Entry Risk Score
Rank #5 of 378 metros #11 of 51 states

Metro and state scores use different methodologies (metro has 4 QCEW-based metrics; state adds BDS survival and momentum data). Direct score comparisons are approximate.

Other Industries in Las Cruces

Retail Trade in Other New Mexico Metros

Retail Trade Metros With Similar Conditions

Metros within 5 points of Las Cruces's 26.0 score. Useful when comparing markets with comparable entry profiles.

Retail Trade in States Bordering New Mexico

State-level entry risk for retail trade in adjacent states. Use this to weigh cross-border options.

Browse Retail Trade in Other States

State-level entry risk reports for retail trade across all 51 markets, sorted by rank.

About Metro Market Score: A weighted composite of industry concentration (25%), wage competitiveness (25%), wage pressure (20%), and employment growth trend (30%). Lower scores indicate more favorable conditions. For Las Cruces's retail trade sector, the wage pressure component (66.8) has the strongest pull on the composite. Metro scores use QCEW data only (no BDS survival data at metro level). Read full methodology →

Data Sources

Data period: 2024. Last updated: April 2026.