Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Buckeye, AZ
VS
Rio Rancho, NM
🏆 Buckeye leads 12 of 23 categories
Buckeye
Arizona
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.0
Median Household Income
$94,188 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
44 ✓ Safer
Population
95,042
Rio Rancho
New Mexico
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$78,978
Violent Crime Index
84
Population
104,351 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Buckeye, AZ
Pros
48% less violent crime than Rio Rancho
Violent crime is well below the national average (166.8 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $15,210 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (5.0%)
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 50°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $341,700
Higher rents — median is $1,597/mo
Longer commutes — 32.5 min average each way
Hot summers — July highs average 107°F
Rio Rancho, NM
Pros
Homes cost $95k less ($246,700 vs $341,700)
Rent averages $240/mo less ($1,357 vs $1,597)
More college-educated — 33.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.0)
Cooler summers — July highs near 96°F vs 107°F
Cons
Median income trails Buckeye by $15,210/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Buckeye
Median Income
$15,210
$94,188 vs $78,978/yr
Buckeye
Violent Crime
48% lower
166.8 vs 318.2 per 100k
Buckeye
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
5.0% vs 5.5% unemployment
Buckeye
Summer Heat
11.0°F warmer
July avg high 106.5°F vs 95.5°F
Rio Rancho
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 93.0 vs 100.0 (100 = US avg)
Rio Rancho
Median Home Value
$95k less
$246,700 vs $341,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Buckeye, AZ | Rio Rancho, NM |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.0 | 93.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $341,700⚠ High | $246,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,597⚠ High | $1,357⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $94,188 ✓ Higher | $78,978 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.5 min⚠ High | 28.5 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 14.2% ✓ Higher | 12.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 41 ✓ Safer | 76 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 44 ✓ Safer | 84 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 37 ✓ Safer | 64 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (72) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.2:1 | 13.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.9% | 33.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.2% | 94.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Litchfield Elementary District (4281) | SANDOVAL ACADEMY OF BILINGUAL EDUCATION |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.1°F ✓ Warmer | 49.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 106.5°F ✓ Warmer | 95.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.0" ✓ Drier | 10.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 9.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 95,042 | 104,351 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.7 | 39.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 85.3% ✓ Higher | 81.1% |
| Under 18 | 28.5% ✓ More | 24.2% |
| Over 65 | 12.9% | 16.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Buckeye's cost of living index is 100.0 vs Rio Rancho's 93.0 (US average = 100).
Rio Rancho is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Buckeye leads 12 of 23 categories. Buckeye wins 12 and Rio Rancho wins 11. 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 Buckeye to Rio Rancho or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($341,700 vs $246,700 median home), income ($94,188 vs $78,978), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Buckeye, AZ and Rio Rancho, NM are about 362 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.