Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fayetteville, NC
VS
Rio Rancho, NM
🏆 Rio Rancho leads 16 of 23 categories
Fayetteville
North Carolina
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$53,424
Violent Crime Index
174⚠ High
Population
208,697 ✓ Larger
Rio Rancho
New Mexico
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.0
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.
Fayetteville, NC
Pros
Homes cost $88k less ($158,500 vs $246,700)
Rent averages $240/mo less ($1,117 vs $1,357)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
Cons
Median income trails Rio Rancho by $25,554/yr
Violent crime (660.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3094.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.4% vs 5.5%)
Rio Rancho, NM
Pros
52% less violent crime than Fayetteville
Households earn $25,554 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.9 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
Smaller class sizes — 13.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,357/mo
Longer commutes — 28.5 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Fayetteville
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 93.0 (100 = US avg)
Fayetteville
Median Home Value
$88k less
$158,500 vs $246,700
Rio Rancho
Median Income
$25,554
$78,978 vs $53,424/yr
Rio Rancho
Violent Crime
52% lower
318.2 vs 660.2 per 100k
Rio Rancho
Unemployment
2.9 pp lower
5.5% vs 8.4% unemployment
Rio Rancho
Summer Heat
4.6°F warmer
July avg high 95.5°F vs 90.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fayetteville, NC | Rio Rancho, NM |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper | 93.0 |
| Median Home Value | $158,500 ✓ Lower | $246,700 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,117 ✓ Lower | $1,357⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $53,424 | $78,978 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.4%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.0 min ✓ Shorter | 28.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 5.4% | 12.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 163⚠ High | 76 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 174⚠ High | 84 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 147⚠ High | 64 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.8:1 | 13.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.5% | 33.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 93.1% | 94.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cumberland County Schools | SANDOVAL ACADEMY OF BILINGUAL EDUCATION |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.1°F ✓ Warmer | 49.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.9°F | 95.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.9" | 10.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.2" ✓ Less | 9.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 208,697 ✓ Larger | 104,351 |
| Median Age | 30.5 | 39.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.4% | 81.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.6% | 24.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.6% | 16.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fayetteville's cost of living index is 91.4 vs Rio Rancho's 93.0 (US average = 100).
Fayetteville is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Rio Rancho leads 16 of 23 categories. Fayetteville 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 Fayetteville to Rio Rancho or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($158,500 vs $246,700 median home), income ($53,424 vs $78,978), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fayetteville, NC and Rio Rancho, NM are about 1,561 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.