Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Broken Arrow, OK
VS
Rio Rancho, NM
🏆 Broken Arrow leads 13 of 23 categories
Broken Arrow
Oklahoma
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$82,547 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
59 ✓ Safer
Population
114,237 ✓ Larger
Rio Rancho
New Mexico
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.0
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.
Broken Arrow, OK
Pros
30% less violent crime than Rio Rancho
Violent crime is well below the national average (223.1 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (4.3%)
Homes cost $36k less ($210,800 vs $246,700)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Rent averages $174/mo less ($1,183 vs $1,357)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Rio Rancho, NM
Pros
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
Higher unemployment (5.5% vs 4.3%)
Longer commutes — 28.5 min average each way
Median income trails Broken Arrow by $3,569/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Broken Arrow
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 89.5 vs 93.0 (100 = US avg)
Broken Arrow
Median Income
$3,569
$82,547 vs $78,978/yr
Broken Arrow
Violent Crime
30% lower
223.1 vs 318.2 per 100k
Broken Arrow
Median Home Value
$36k less
$210,800 vs $246,700
Broken Arrow
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
4.3% vs 5.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Broken Arrow, OK | Rio Rancho, NM |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.5 ✓ Cheaper | 93.0 |
| Median Home Value | $210,800 ✓ Lower | $246,700 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,183 ✓ Lower | $1,357⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $82,547 ✓ Higher | $78,978 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter | 28.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.2% | 12.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 58 ✓ Safer | 76 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 59 ✓ Safer | 84 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 57 ✓ Safer | 64 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (97) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 | 13.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.4% ✓ Higher | 33.2% |
| High School or Higher | 94.2% | 94.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BROKEN ARROW | SANDOVAL ACADEMY OF BILINGUAL EDUCATION |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.9°F | 49.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 93.5°F | 95.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.7" | 10.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 8.7" ✓ Less | 9.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,237 ✓ Larger | 104,351 |
| Median Age | 36.8 | 39.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 72.5% | 81.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.3% ✓ More | 24.2% |
| Over 65 | 15.1% | 16.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Broken Arrow's cost of living index is 89.5 vs Rio Rancho's 93.0 (US average = 100).
Broken Arrow is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Broken Arrow leads 13 of 23 categories. Broken Arrow wins 13 and Rio Rancho wins 10. 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 Broken Arrow to Rio Rancho or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($210,800 vs $246,700 median home), income ($82,547 vs $78,978), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Broken Arrow, OK and Rio Rancho, NM are about 615 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.