Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Concord, CA
VS
Rio Rancho, NM
🏆 Rio Rancho leads 16 of 23 categories
Concord
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$107,789 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
128⚠ High
Population
125,007 ✓ Larger
Rio Rancho
New Mexico
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$78,978
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.
Concord, CA
Pros
Households earn $28,811 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (4.9%)
More college-educated — 36.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 50°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 88°F vs 96°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $706,700
Higher rents — median is $2,137/mo
Cost of living runs 25% higher than Rio Rancho
Violent crime (484.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Rio Rancho, NM
Pros
Homes cost $460k less ($246,700 vs $706,700)
Rent averages $780/mo less ($1,357 vs $2,137)
34% less violent crime than Concord
25% cheaper overall cost of living than Concord
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.0)
Cons
Median income trails Concord by $28,811/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Concord
Median Income
$28,811
$107,789 vs $78,978/yr
Concord
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
4.9% vs 5.5% unemployment
Rio Rancho
Cost of Living
25% cheaper
COL index 93.0 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Rio Rancho
Violent Crime
34% lower
318.2 vs 484.6 per 100k
Rio Rancho
Median Home Value
$460k less
$246,700 vs $706,700
Rio Rancho
Summer Heat
7.5°F warmer
July avg high 95.5°F vs 88.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Concord, CA | Rio Rancho, NM |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 93.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $706,700⚠ High | $246,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,137⚠ High | $1,357⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $107,789 ✓ Higher | $78,978 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.6 min⚠ High | 28.5 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.7% ✓ Higher | 12.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 131⚠ High | 76 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 128⚠ High | 84 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 137⚠ High | 64 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.2:1 | 13.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.7% ✓ Higher | 33.2% |
| High School or Higher | 88.6% | 94.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Mt. Diablo Unified | SANDOVAL ACADEMY OF BILINGUAL EDUCATION |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.6°F ✓ Warmer | 49.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.0°F | 95.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 18.9" | 10.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 9.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 125,007 ✓ Larger | 104,351 |
| Median Age | 38.8 | 39.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.1% | 81.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.5% | 24.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.8% | 16.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Concord's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Rio Rancho's 93.0 (US average = 100).
Rio Rancho is 25% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Rio Rancho leads 16 of 23 categories. Concord wins 7 and Rio Rancho wins 16. 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 Concord to Rio Rancho or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($706,700 vs $246,700 median home), income ($107,789 vs $78,978), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Concord, CA and Rio Rancho, NM are about 868 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.