Below Average CostSafer than AverageSANDOVAL ACADEMY OF BILINGUAL EDUCATION
City Hall Rio Rancho New Mexico · AllenS / Public domainRIO RANCHO ESTATES SUBDIVISION - NARA - 545347 · Danny Lyon / Public domainRio Rancho Sprawl · Riverrat303 / CC BY-SA 3.0Intel in Rio Rancho · Khlnmusa / CC BY-SA 3.0
Rio Rancho is a mid-sized city of 104,351 in New Mexico, with a median household income of $78,978
and a 5.5% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 93 (US average = 100), which is
7% below the national average.
Strengths:
Rio Rancho stands out for an affordable cost of living, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B+).
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Rio Rancho is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Rio Rancho city data on this page comes from official government sources —
the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 93.0
Rio Rancho's overall cost of living index is 93.0,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Rio Rancho costs roughly 7% less than the average American city.
Metric
Rio Rancho, NM
National Avg
Median Home Value
$246,700
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$1,357
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
81.1%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$78,978
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Safer than Average
Rio Rancho's violent crime rate is 318.2 per 100,000 residents
— 16% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
318.2 /100k
Property Crime
1339.3 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Rio Rancho is served primarily by SANDOVAL ACADEMY OF BILINGUAL EDUCATION.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.6:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Rio Rancho, NM
National Avg
School District
SANDOVAL ACADEMY OF BILINGUAL EDUCATION
—
Elementary Schools
1
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
N/A
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.6:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
33.2%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
94.6%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Rio Rancho sees average highs of 49.9°F in January
and 95.5°F in July,
with 10.3 inches of annual precipitation
and 9.3 inches of snow per year.
Rio Rancho's cost of living index is 93, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Rio Rancho roughly 7% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $246,700 and median rent is $1,357/month.
Rio Rancho's violent crime rate is 318.2 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1339.3 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Rio Rancho are operated by SANDOVAL ACADEMY OF BILINGUAL EDUCATION.
The district has 1 elementary, several middle, and several high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.6:1. 33.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Rio Rancho, NM has a population of 104,351, a median household income of $78,978, and an unemployment rate of 5.5%.
It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Rio Rancho averages 49.9°F in January and 95.5°F in July. Annual rainfall is 10.3 inches
with about 9.3 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Rio Rancho, NM is covered by 1 ZIP code: 87144.
The population of Rio Rancho, New Mexico is 104,351 with a median age of 39.0. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Rio Rancho: cost of living index 93 (100 = US average), median home $246,700, median household income $78,978, crime index 76 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Rio Rancho side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
