Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bridgeport, CT
VS
Rio Rancho, NM
🏆 Rio Rancho leads 21 of 23 categories
Bridgeport
Connecticut
2
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$54,440
Violent Crime Index
103⚠ High
Population
148,470 ✓ Larger
Rio Rancho
New Mexico
21
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.
Bridgeport, CT
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 96°F
Homes cost $20k less ($227,200 vs $246,700)
Cons
Median income trails Rio Rancho by $24,538/yr
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Rio Rancho
Higher unemployment (9.5% vs 5.5%)
Rio Rancho, NM
Pros
Households earn $24,538 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.0 pts lower (5.5%)
19% less violent crime than Bridgeport
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Bridgeport
More college-educated — 33.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.0)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Bridgeport
Median Home Value
$20k less
$227,200 vs $246,700
Rio Rancho
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 93.0 vs 106.5 (100 = US avg)
Rio Rancho
Median Income
$24,538
$78,978 vs $54,440/yr
Rio Rancho
Violent Crime
19% lower
318.2 vs 392.9 per 100k
Rio Rancho
Unemployment
4.0 pp lower
5.5% vs 9.5% unemployment
Rio Rancho
Summer Heat
12.1°F warmer
July avg high 95.5°F vs 83.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bridgeport, CT | Rio Rancho, NM |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.5⚠ High | 93.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $227,200 ✓ Lower | $246,700 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,369⚠ High | $1,357⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,440 | $78,978 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.5%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.9 min⚠ High | 28.5 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.0% | 12.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 90 | 76 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 103⚠ High | 84 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 | 64 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.6:1 | 13.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.7% | 33.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 80.0% | 94.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bridgeport School District | SANDOVAL ACADEMY OF BILINGUAL EDUCATION |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.4°F | 49.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.4°F | 95.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.1" | 10.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.6" | 9.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 148,470 ✓ Larger | 104,351 |
| Median Age | 37.5 | 39.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.2% | 81.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.7% | 24.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 16.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bridgeport's cost of living index is 106.5 vs Rio Rancho's 93.0 (US average = 100).
Rio Rancho is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Rio Rancho leads 21 of 23 categories. Bridgeport wins 2 and Rio Rancho wins 21. 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 Bridgeport to Rio Rancho or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($227,200 vs $246,700 median home), income ($54,440 vs $78,978), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bridgeport, CT and Rio Rancho, NM are about 1,851 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.