Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Edinburg, TX
VS
Rio Rancho, NM
🏆 Rio Rancho leads 13 of 22 categories
Edinburg
Texas
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,139
Violent Crime Index
71 ✓ Safer
Population
100,964
Rio Rancho
New Mexico
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.0
Median Household Income
$78,978 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
84
Population
104,351 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Edinburg, TX
Pros
Homes cost $87k less ($159,600 vs $246,700)
Rent averages $437/mo less ($920 vs $1,357)
15% less violent crime than Rio Rancho
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 50°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.6)
Cons
Median income trails Rio Rancho by $24,839/yr
Higher unemployment (7.2% vs 5.5%)
Rio Rancho, NM
Pros
Households earn $24,839 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (5.5%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.0)
More college-educated — 33.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,357/mo
Longer commutes — 28.5 min average each way
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Edinburg
Key Differences at a Glance
Edinburg
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 85.6 vs 93.0 (100 = US avg)
Edinburg
Violent Crime
15% lower
269.6 vs 318.2 per 100k
Edinburg
Median Home Value
$87k less
$159,600 vs $246,700
Rio Rancho
Median Income
$24,839
$78,978 vs $54,139/yr
Rio Rancho
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
5.5% vs 7.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Edinburg, TX | Rio Rancho, NM |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.6 ✓ Cheaper | 93.0 |
| Median Home Value | $159,600 ✓ Lower | $246,700 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $920 ✓ Lower | $1,357⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,139 | $78,978 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.2%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.8 min ✓ Shorter | 28.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.3% | 12.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 76 | 76 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 ✓ Safer | 84 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 | 64 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.7:1 | 13.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.4% | 33.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 79.8% | 94.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | EDINBURG CISD | SANDOVAL ACADEMY OF BILINGUAL EDUCATION |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.2°F ✓ Warmer | 49.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.7°F ✓ Warmer | 95.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 26.0" | 10.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 9.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 100,964 | 104,351 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 29.9 | 39.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.6% | 81.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.7% ✓ More | 24.2% |
| Over 65 | 9.5% | 16.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Edinburg's cost of living index is 85.6 vs Rio Rancho's 93.0 (US average = 100).
Edinburg is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Rio Rancho leads 13 of 22 categories. Edinburg wins 9 and Rio Rancho wins 13. 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 Edinburg to Rio Rancho or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($159,600 vs $246,700 median home), income ($54,139 vs $78,978), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Edinburg, TX and Rio Rancho, NM are about 799 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.