Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Centennial, CO
VS
Rio Rancho, NM
🏆 Centennial leads 13 of 23 categories
Centennial
Colorado
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$124,617 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
45 ✓ Safer
Population
107,702 ✓ Larger
Rio Rancho
New Mexico
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.0 ✓ Cheaper
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.
Centennial, CO
Pros
Households earn $45,639 more per year on average
46% less violent crime than Rio Rancho
More college-educated — 61.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (3.4%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (172.8 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 96°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $586,500
Higher rents — median is $1,949/mo
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Rio Rancho
Snowy winters — about 64" of snow per year
Rio Rancho, NM
Pros
Homes cost $340k less ($246,700 vs $586,500)
Rent averages $592/mo less ($1,357 vs $1,949)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Centennial
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.0)
Milder winters — January highs near 50°F vs 45°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Centennial by $45,639/yr
Higher unemployment (5.5% vs 3.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Centennial
Median Income
$45,639
$124,617 vs $78,978/yr
Centennial
Violent Crime
46% lower
172.8 vs 318.2 per 100k
Centennial
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
3.4% vs 5.5% unemployment
Rio Rancho
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 93.0 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Rio Rancho
Median Home Value
$340k less
$246,700 vs $586,500
Rio Rancho
Summer Heat
8.2°F warmer
July avg high 95.5°F vs 87.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Centennial, CO | Rio Rancho, NM |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 93.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $586,500⚠ High | $246,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,949⚠ High | $1,357⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $124,617 ✓ Higher | $78,978 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% ✓ Lower | 5.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.0 min ✓ Shorter | 28.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 21.2% ✓ Higher | 12.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 60 ✓ Safer | 76 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 45 ✓ Safer | 84 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 81 | 64 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | B+ (107) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.2:1 | 13.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 61.3% ✓ Higher | 33.2% |
| High School or Higher | 97.4% ✓ Higher | 94.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cherry Creek School District No. 5 in the county of Arapah | SANDOVAL ACADEMY OF BILINGUAL EDUCATION |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.6°F | 49.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F | 95.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.0" | 10.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 64.0" | 9.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 107,702 ✓ Larger | 104,351 |
| Median Age | 41.6 ✓ Older | 39.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 82.3% ✓ Higher | 81.1% |
| Under 18 | 22.5% | 24.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.9% ✓ More | 16.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Centennial's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Rio Rancho's 93.0 (US average = 100).
Rio Rancho is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Centennial leads 13 of 23 categories. Centennial 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 Centennial to Rio Rancho or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($586,500 vs $246,700 median home), income ($124,617 vs $78,978), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Centennial, CO and Rio Rancho, NM are about 314 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.