Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chicago, IL
VS
Rio Rancho, NM
🏆 Rio Rancho leads 18 of 23 categories
Chicago
Illinois
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,673
Violent Crime Index
142⚠ High
Population
2,721,914 ✓ Larger
Rio Rancho
New Mexico
18
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.
Chicago, IL
Pros
More college-educated — 42.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 96°F
Cons
Violent crime (539.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3472.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.2% vs 5.5%)
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Rio Rancho
Rio Rancho, NM
Pros
41% less violent crime than Chicago
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.7 pts lower (5.5%)
Homes cost $58k less ($246,700 vs $304,500)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 50°F vs 32°F
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Chicago
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Rio Rancho
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 93.0 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Rio Rancho
Median Income
$7,305
$78,978 vs $71,673/yr
Rio Rancho
Violent Crime
41% lower
318.2 vs 539.8 per 100k
Rio Rancho
Median Home Value
$58k less
$246,700 vs $304,500
Rio Rancho
Unemployment
2.7 pp lower
5.5% vs 8.2% unemployment
Rio Rancho
Summer Heat
14.5°F warmer
July avg high 95.5°F vs 81.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chicago, IL | Rio Rancho, NM |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High | 93.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $304,500 | $246,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,314 ✓ Lower | $1,357⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,673 | $78,978 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.2%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 34.1 min⚠ High | 28.5 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 15.6% ✓ Higher | 12.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 151⚠ High | 76 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 142⚠ High | 84 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 165⚠ High | 64 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (118) ✓ Better | B+ (107) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 | 13.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.4% ✓ Higher | 33.2% |
| High School or Higher | 86.6% | 94.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Chicago Public Schools Dist 299 | SANDOVAL ACADEMY OF BILINGUAL EDUCATION |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.9°F | 49.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.0°F | 95.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 34.4" | 10.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 38.8" | 9.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 2,721,914 ✓ Larger | 104,351 |
| Median Age | 35.3 | 39.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.6% | 81.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 24.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.3% | 16.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chicago's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Rio Rancho's 93.0 (US average = 100).
Rio Rancho is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Rio Rancho leads 18 of 23 categories. Chicago wins 5 and Rio Rancho wins 18. 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 Chicago to Rio Rancho or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($304,500 vs $246,700 median home), income ($71,673 vs $78,978), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chicago, IL and Rio Rancho, NM are about 1,119 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.