Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Aurora, IL
VS
Rio Rancho, NM
🏆 Rio Rancho leads 14 of 22 categories
Aurora
Illinois
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$85,943 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
70 ✓ Safer
Population
181,405 ✓ Larger
Rio Rancho
New Mexico
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$78,978
Violent Crime Index
84
Population
104,351
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Aurora, IL
Pros
16% less violent crime than Rio Rancho
Households earn $6,965 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 96°F
Cons
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Rio Rancho
Higher rents — median is $1,462/mo
Rio Rancho, NM
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 50°F vs 31°F
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Aurora
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.0)
Rent averages $105/mo less ($1,357 vs $1,462)
Cons
Median income trails Aurora by $6,965/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Aurora
Median Income
$6,965
$85,943 vs $78,978/yr
Aurora
Violent Crime
16% lower
266.0 vs 318.2 per 100k
Rio Rancho
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 93.0 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Rio Rancho
Summer Heat
11.5°F warmer
July avg high 95.5°F vs 84.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Aurora, IL | Rio Rancho, NM |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High | 93.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $241,600 ✓ Lower | $246,700 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,462⚠ High | $1,357⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,943 ✓ Higher | $78,978 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.6 min⚠ High | 28.5 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 12.1% | 12.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 66 ✓ Safer | 76 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 84 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 60 ✓ Safer | 64 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 | 13.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.2% ✓ Higher | 33.2% |
| High School or Higher | 80.9% | 94.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Indian Prairie CUSD 204 | SANDOVAL ACADEMY OF BILINGUAL EDUCATION |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.5°F | 49.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.0°F | 95.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.5" | 10.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 27.9" | 9.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 181,405 ✓ Larger | 104,351 |
| Median Age | 35.4 | 39.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.8% | 81.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 26.7% ✓ More | 24.2% |
| Over 65 | 10.5% | 16.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Aurora's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Rio Rancho's 93.0 (US average = 100).
Rio Rancho is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Rio Rancho leads 14 of 22 categories. Aurora wins 8 and Rio Rancho wins 14. 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 Aurora to Rio Rancho or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($241,600 vs $246,700 median home), income ($85,943 vs $78,978), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Aurora, IL and Rio Rancho, NM are about 1,088 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.