Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Augusta-Richmond County, GA
VS
Rio Rancho, NM
🏆 Rio Rancho leads 13 of 20 categories
Augusta-Richmond County
Georgia
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$50,492
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
201,615 ✓ Larger
Rio Rancho
New Mexico
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.0
Median Household Income
$78,978 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
84
Population
104,351
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Augusta-Richmond County, GA
Pros
Homes cost $105k less ($141,900 vs $246,700)
Rent averages $334/mo less ($1,023 vs $1,357)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 50°F
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Rio Rancho
Cons
Median income trails Rio Rancho by $28,486/yr
Higher unemployment (8.3% vs 5.5%)
Rio Rancho, NM
Pros
Households earn $28,486 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.8 pts lower (5.5%)
More college-educated — 33.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.0)
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,357/mo
Longer commutes — 28.5 min average each way
Cost of living runs 2% higher than Augusta-Richmond County
Key Differences at a Glance
Augusta-Richmond County
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 93.0 (100 = US avg)
Augusta-Richmond County
Median Home Value
$105k less
$141,900 vs $246,700
Rio Rancho
Median Income
$28,486
$78,978 vs $50,492/yr
Rio Rancho
Unemployment
2.8 pp lower
5.5% vs 8.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Augusta-Richmond County, GA | Rio Rancho, NM |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper | 93.0 |
| Median Home Value | $141,900 ✓ Lower | $246,700 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,023 ✓ Lower | $1,357⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,492 | $78,978 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.3%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.2 min ✓ Shorter | 28.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.0% | 12.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 76 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 84 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 64 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (90) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 | 13.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.8% | 33.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.7% | 94.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Richmond County | SANDOVAL ACADEMY OF BILINGUAL EDUCATION |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.6°F ✓ Warmer | 49.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.1°F | 95.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.1" | 10.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.8" ✓ Less | 9.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 201,615 ✓ Larger | 104,351 |
| Median Age | 34.6 | 39.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.0% | 81.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.9% | 24.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.5% | 16.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Augusta-Richmond County's cost of living index is 91.0 vs Rio Rancho's 93.0 (US average = 100).
Augusta-Richmond County is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Rio Rancho leads 13 of 20 categories. Augusta-Richmond County wins 7 and Rio Rancho wins 13. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Augusta-Richmond County to Rio Rancho or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($141,900 vs $246,700 median home), income ($50,492 vs $78,978), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Augusta-Richmond County, GA and Rio Rancho, NM are about 1,408 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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