Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Beaumont, TX
VS
Rio Rancho, NM
🏆 Rio Rancho leads 14 of 23 categories
Beaumont
Texas
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.2 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$53,745
Violent Crime Index
299⚠ High
Population
114,573 ✓ Larger
Rio Rancho
New Mexico
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.0
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.
Beaumont, TX
Pros
Homes cost $96k less ($150,400 vs $246,700)
Rent averages $365/mo less ($992 vs $1,357)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 50°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.2)
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Rio Rancho
Cons
Median income trails Rio Rancho by $25,233/yr
Violent crime (1137.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3302.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Rio Rancho, NM
Pros
72% less violent crime than Beaumont
Households earn $25,233 more per year on average
More college-educated — 33.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.0)
Smaller class sizes — 13.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,357/mo
Longer commutes — 28.5 min average each way
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Beaumont
Key Differences at a Glance
Beaumont
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 90.2 vs 93.0 (100 = US avg)
Beaumont
Median Home Value
$96k less
$150,400 vs $246,700
Rio Rancho
Median Income
$25,233
$78,978 vs $53,745/yr
Rio Rancho
Violent Crime
72% lower
318.2 vs 1137.3 per 100k
Rio Rancho
Summer Heat
3.5°F warmer
July avg high 95.5°F vs 92.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Beaumont, TX | Rio Rancho, NM |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.2 ✓ Cheaper | 93.0 |
| Median Home Value | $150,400 ✓ Lower | $246,700 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $992 ✓ Lower | $1,357⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $53,745 | $78,978 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.7 min ✓ Shorter | 28.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 3.6% | 12.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 242⚠ High | 76 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 299⚠ High | 84 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 157⚠ High | 64 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.9:1 | 13.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.8% | 33.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.2% | 94.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BEAUMONT ISD | SANDOVAL ACADEMY OF BILINGUAL EDUCATION |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.6°F ✓ Warmer | 49.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F | 95.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 65.1" | 10.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" ✓ Less | 9.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,573 ✓ Larger | 104,351 |
| Median Age | 35.5 | 39.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.4% | 81.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.7% ✓ More | 24.2% |
| Over 65 | 15.9% | 16.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Beaumont's cost of living index is 90.2 vs Rio Rancho's 93.0 (US average = 100).
Beaumont is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Rio Rancho leads 14 of 23 categories. Beaumont wins 9 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 Beaumont to Rio Rancho or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($150,400 vs $246,700 median home), income ($53,745 vs $78,978), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Beaumont, TX and Rio Rancho, NM are about 813 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.