Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Downey, CA
VS
Rio Rancho, NM
🏆 Rio Rancho leads 19 of 23 categories
Downey
California
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$84,236 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
121⚠ High
Population
113,052 ✓ Larger
Rio Rancho
New Mexico
19
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.
Downey, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 50°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 96°F
Households earn $5,258 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $679,000
Higher rents — median is $1,814/mo
Violent crime (460.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 23% higher than Rio Rancho
Rio Rancho, NM
Pros
Homes cost $432k less ($246,700 vs $679,000)
31% less violent crime than Downey
Rent averages $457/mo less ($1,357 vs $1,814)
23% cheaper overall cost of living than Downey
More college-educated — 33.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.0)
Cons
Median income trails Downey by $5,258/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Downey
Median Income
$5,258
$84,236 vs $78,978/yr
Rio Rancho
Cost of Living
23% cheaper
COL index 93.0 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Rio Rancho
Violent Crime
31% lower
318.2 vs 460.5 per 100k
Rio Rancho
Median Home Value
$432k less
$246,700 vs $679,000
Rio Rancho
Summer Heat
14.1°F warmer
July avg high 95.5°F vs 81.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Downey, CA | Rio Rancho, NM |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 93.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $679,000⚠ High | $246,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,814⚠ High | $1,357⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $84,236 ✓ Higher | $78,978 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 28.5 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.2% | 12.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 123⚠ High | 76 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 121⚠ High | 84 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 64 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.7:1 | 13.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.2% | 33.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 80.2% | 94.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Downey Unified | SANDOVAL ACADEMY OF BILINGUAL EDUCATION |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.4°F ✓ Warmer | 49.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 81.4°F | 95.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.2" | 10.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 9.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 113,052 ✓ Larger | 104,351 |
| Median Age | 36.5 | 39.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.4% | 81.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.6% | 24.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.2% | 16.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Downey's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Rio Rancho's 93.0 (US average = 100).
Rio Rancho is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Rio Rancho leads 19 of 23 categories. Downey wins 4 and Rio Rancho wins 19. 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 Downey to Rio Rancho or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($679,000 vs $246,700 median home), income ($84,236 vs $78,978), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Downey, CA and Rio Rancho, NM are about 656 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.