Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chico, CA
VS
Rio Rancho, NM
🏆 Rio Rancho leads 18 of 23 categories
Chico
California
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$65,932
Violent Crime Index
184⚠ High
Population
102,790
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 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chico, CA
Pros
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 41.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 50°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $427,600
Violent crime (699.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Rio Rancho by $13,046/yr
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Rio Rancho
Rio Rancho, NM
Pros
Homes cost $181k less ($246,700 vs $427,600)
54% less violent crime than Chico
Households earn $13,046 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (5.5%)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Chico
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.0)
Cons
Longer commutes — 28.5 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Rio Rancho
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 93.0 vs 104.6 (100 = US avg)
Rio Rancho
Median Income
$13,046
$78,978 vs $65,932/yr
Rio Rancho
Violent Crime
54% lower
318.2 vs 699.2 per 100k
Rio Rancho
Median Home Value
$181k less
$246,700 vs $427,600
Rio Rancho
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
5.5% vs 6.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chico, CA | Rio Rancho, NM |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.6⚠ High | 93.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $427,600⚠ High | $246,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,360⚠ High | $1,357⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $65,932 | $78,978 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.5 min ✓ Shorter | 28.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.5% | 12.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 147⚠ High | 76 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 184⚠ High | 84 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 90 | 64 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (112) ✓ Better | B+ (107) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 | 13.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 41.3% ✓ Higher | 33.2% |
| High School or Higher | 93.2% | 94.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Inspire School of Arts and Sciences District | SANDOVAL ACADEMY OF BILINGUAL EDUCATION |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.1°F ✓ Warmer | 49.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.2°F | 95.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 28.3" | 10.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" ✓ Less | 9.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 102,790 | 104,351 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.4 | 39.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.1% | 81.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.7% | 24.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 16.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chico's cost of living index is 104.6 vs Rio Rancho's 93.0 (US average = 100).
Rio Rancho is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Rio Rancho leads 18 of 23 categories. Chico 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 Chico to Rio Rancho or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($427,600 vs $246,700 median home), income ($65,932 vs $78,978), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chico, CA and Rio Rancho, NM are about 883 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.