Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Baltimore, MD
VS
Rio Rancho, NM
🏆 Rio Rancho leads 18 of 23 categories
Baltimore
Maryland
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.7⚠ High
Median Household Income
$58,349
Violent Crime Index
423⚠ High
Population
584,548 ✓ Larger
Rio Rancho
New Mexico
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$78,978 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
84 ✓ Safer
Population
104,351
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Baltimore, MD
Pros
Homes cost $44k less ($202,900 vs $246,700)
Rent averages $122/mo less ($1,235 vs $1,357)
Cooler summers — July highs near 90°F vs 96°F
Cons
Median income trails Rio Rancho by $20,629/yr
Violent crime (1606.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4157.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.9% vs 5.5%)
Rio Rancho, NM
Pros
80% less violent crime than Baltimore
Households earn $20,629 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (5.5%)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Baltimore
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.0)
Milder winters — January highs near 50°F vs 44°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,357/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Baltimore
Median Home Value
$44k less
$202,900 vs $246,700
Rio Rancho
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 93.0 vs 102.7 (100 = US avg)
Rio Rancho
Median Income
$20,629
$78,978 vs $58,349/yr
Rio Rancho
Violent Crime
80% lower
318.2 vs 1606.2 per 100k
Rio Rancho
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
5.5% vs 6.9% unemployment
Rio Rancho
Summer Heat
5.4°F warmer
July avg high 95.5°F vs 90.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Baltimore, MD | Rio Rancho, NM |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.7⚠ High | 93.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $202,900 ✓ Lower | $246,700 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,235 ✓ Lower | $1,357⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,349 | $78,978 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.1 min⚠ High | 28.5 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.4% ✓ Higher | 12.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 333⚠ High | 76 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 423⚠ High | 84 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 198⚠ High | 64 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 | 13.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.9% ✓ Higher | 33.2% |
| High School or Higher | 87.1% | 94.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Baltimore City Public Schools | SANDOVAL ACADEMY OF BILINGUAL EDUCATION |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 43.7°F | 49.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.1°F | 95.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.7" | 10.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 19.3" | 9.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 584,548 ✓ Larger | 104,351 |
| Median Age | 36.0 | 39.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.8% | 81.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.4% | 24.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.8% | 16.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Baltimore's cost of living index is 102.7 vs Rio Rancho's 93.0 (US average = 100).
Rio Rancho is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Rio Rancho leads 18 of 23 categories. Baltimore wins 5 and Rio Rancho wins 18. 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 Baltimore to Rio Rancho or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($202,900 vs $246,700 median home), income ($58,349 vs $78,978), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Baltimore, MD and Rio Rancho, NM are about 1,669 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.